1. Culturally, Linguistically, and Economically Diverse Students
A Few Things to Think About
Based on Marina Michalski’s 2007 SDE DI workshop

2. Some Starting Thoughts
Since 1990, the ELL population in US public schools has increased 101%
Many are “economic refugees”
These are not the only students struggling with poverty & cultural differences – Many native born students face these same obstacles

3. Linguistic Diversity Obstacles to everyday communication
Obstacles to academic language
See Michalski’s bibliographies for online language & linguistics resources and for multicultural read-alouds

4. Cultural Diversity Eye contact – to make or not to make?
How to address teachers & other adults
How to behave in a classroom – stay in seat, etc.
How/when to communicate with the teacher – absence work, conferences, concerns

5. Cultural Diversity How to work in groups – copy or own work
Different nonverbal communication – thumbs up, wave with palm showing, etc.
The meaning of laughter
Personal space
Keeping face & failure
Naming traditions

6. Economic Diversity
The underlying characteristics of generational poverty have surface representations at school – see Michalski’s charts
Ex.: Important relationships & the reliance on people to survive = Students decide if they will work in the classroom based on whether or not they like you.

7. Economic Diversity Rules of the middle class & high society
It is difficult for those students suffering from generational poverty to interface with the middle-class culture prevalent in most public schools (Michalski & Payne)

8. Michalski’s Core Elements of Teaching in a Diverse Classroom
Organized, colorful environment
Student-centered classroom where they feel safe & comfortable working together & learning from each other
Their experiences appear in instruction
Photos, music, films related to content
Group & pair work – contribute what can

9. Michalski’s Core Elements of Teaching in a Diverse Classroom (cont.)
Culturally diverse literature, music, etc.
Cultural, national, international, & global perspectives
Supplementary materials
Similarities & universals of human experience

10. Resources
Michalski, Marina. “Are We Speaking the Same Language Here? Considerations in Teaching Linguistically, Culturally, and Economically Diverse Students.” SDE National Conference on Differentiated Conference, Las Vegas, July 2007.
Payne, Ruby. (2001). A framework for understanding poverty. Highlands, TX: Aha! Process, Inc.