Effective Strategies for Teaching in a Culturally Diverse Classroom (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: I am your narrator, Frank Avella. Here we're going to explore several different strategies for teaching to a classroom filled with diversity. Now, one of the most important steps in teaching to a culturally diverse classroom is to get to know your students. Know their background, know their history, where they came from, and what matters to them. Next, provide rationales and reasons for giving certain examinations or having an activity. Students from diverse backgrounds may not fully understand why standardized tests are important. Group work is a great way to help foster inclusivity into the classroom. Students develop soft skills and learn how to better communicate with one another. Also, there is opportunity for students to form friendships. Cultural sensitivity must be on display from the teacher. Otherwise, you wouldn't expect your students to show cultural sensitivity themselves. Parents of culturally diverse students and minorities should be welcome to the classroom, and it's an obligation of the teacher to reach out to them and form positive relationships with them. Culture studies are a great activity for elementary school teachers, high school social studies, and English as well. Students are assigned to research their own cultural backgrounds and present information on their backgrounds to the classroom. Every once in a while, educators should take the time to examine their own hidden biases with regard to cultural diversity in the classroom. If you're teaching in a predominantly black school, you should have some decorations that reflect their heritage, posters like Martin Luther King Jr. or Harriet Tubman. Not all groups perform the same on typical classroom tests. Some cultures place more importance on teamwork or the ability to create or build. When testing a culturally diverse classroom, consider incorporating alternative assessments. Teachers should also use different methods. They should vary the lesson structure and styles. Some cultures are more musical than others. There is the idea of cultural learning styles. There are a number of practices teachers can incorporate to support English language learners, such as speaking at a slower pace, enunciating their words, using realia, avoiding raising their voices, and many, many more. Teacher-student relationships is arguably the most important component of classroom success. Teachers may need to make extra effort to get to know the students. Well to their events, a multicultural curriculum allows students to learn the material that is written from a different perspective. It incorporates books and lessons from the students' own cultural backgrounds. It takes an open mind to even consider the suggestions from this presentation. Being open-minded allows us to put our differences aside and come together as a harmonious society. Teachers need to be aware of the soft bigotry of low expectations. Their teachers quote dumbed down their instruction because they believe their students won't be able to learn the material. As a way to empower students from minority backgrounds, provide choice in assignments. It doesn't have to be a lot, maybe provide the option to choose between two different readings. The digital divide describes the fact that some students do not have access to the internet or a computer at home. Yes, there are public libraries, but it's not always an option for students with poor socioeconomic backgrounds. Lastly, set communication expectations. Each culture has its own unique style of communication, which is acceptable for one student, may not be acceptable for another group of students. Teachers need to be consistent with clear communication rules. Anyway, right now I want to say thank you for your time. Check the description for resources, don't forget to subscribe to this channel, and please like and share this video. Thank you.