The
video above highlights why it’s important for educators to have a diversified
lesson plan, how to embed diversity into activities and ways for students to
gain an understanding as to why differences should be embraced and that their
difference is something to be proud of.
Educators
should reflect their students culture into their lesson plans it allows the
students to be more comfortable in the classroom and to be interactive. In the
text it states, "Students at every grade level benefit from connecting
school assignments with issues and concerns they are experiencing in their own
lives." It's easier for students to be successful when they can apply
their real-life dealings to assignments and formulas in the classroom. Your
lesson plan should reflect the makeup of your classroom. Issues arise when
students cannot connect to assignments on a more personal level.
A way to
implement diversity into your lesson plans is to first know your students
background. I suggest on the first day handing out a get to know you
assessment. Have students fill out who they are and what they represent. In the
future you can reflect back on these assessments so you can modify activities
for your students. Or have students illustrate a comic strip of how they seem
themselves and then how they feel society sees them. And have them compare on
the similarities and differences. It’s a great ice breaker you can start by
presenting your own comic strip.
Look below for an example on how to illustrate your own.
Remember, "Making learning more culturally relevant
requires changing what is taught and how it’s taught."
References:
- Chen, Deborah, Michele Haney, and Annie Cox. "Supporting Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood." www.youtube.com. BrookesPublishing, 4 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.
- Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
