Working with

Diversity in Education

Megan Stone
Molly Rathje
Sarah Coleman
Mary Kreutzkamp

Diversity in General
Although

it may be tempting to ignore

diversity in the classroom, it is vital to a
thriving learning environment.

Although

there are many different views

on diversity, those who benefit the most
are those who look at it positively.

The

teacher needs to be the mediator in

the classroom by helping the students
accept each others differences.

Benefits of Diversity
Group

work can help give students

insight into classmates with other
backgrounds and viewpoints.

Group

work will help the students be

aware of their differences, yet accepting
of them as a positive experience.

Working

with a diverse group helps to

prepare students for life beyond the
classroom.

Tips for Teachers

Teachers

need to know the backgrounds

of the children coming into their class in
order to help benefit the student; if no
prior knowledge is given, research must
be done.

Every

student needs to receive the

same amount of acceptance and
attention by the teacher in order for
their classmates to be accepting of
them.

Tips for Teachers (cont.)

Rather

than just teaching the curriculum each

student should be taught at or beyond their
skill level, so that they are challenged
according to their needs.

There

needs to be open communication

between the teacher and students so that they
both feel comfortable.

Try

to prevent grouping kids based on their

diversity; that use of heterogeneous grouping,
will only cause a division among the students.

Activity
Each

table is given a scenario of a

possible student who has some
challenges that you, as a teacher, could
face in your classroom.

Your

job is to come up with ways to

integrate this student in your classincluding them in lessons and making
them feel comfortable around their
classmates.

ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder

Eliminate

visual distractions by seating

the child away from doors and windows
to keep them focused during lessons.

Alternate

lessons at their desks with

those that incorporate movement
whenever possible.

Make

a schedule for the students to use

as a reference point throughout the day.

OCD: Obsessive Compulsive

Disorder
Have

a spot where the child can go to

cool down, and relax away from the rest
of the class.

Have

a clear schedule so the students

will always have the same repetition
and know what to expect.

Hearing Impairments

Use enhanced visual aids, since their

hearing impairment is usually
compensated with better vision.

Try not to create excess noise while

teaching, like talking while writing on the
chalkboard, or the child will be unable to
hear what is being said.

Seat the child near the person giving the

lesson.

Avoid the use of idioms and things not

pertaining to the lesson being learned.

Dyslexia

Break tasks down into small easy to remember

pieces.

Help the child create folders for each subject to

keep things organized.

When writing on the chalkboard, use different

colored chalk so the child can see the difference
and do not erase before they have copied the
information.

Do not force the child to read aloud in the

classroom.

Give the student credit based on effort and

achievement, so they have a greater chance of
succeeding.

Socioemotional Problems
Show

the child you care no matter how

much they are struggling.

Focus

on the strengths of the child, not

their weaknesses.

Attempt

to avoid all problematic

scenarios by planning ahead.

Be

flexible in order to meet the specific

needs of each child.

Mexican/Spanish Speaking
Make

sure all the directions for

assignments are written in Spanish as
well as English.

Have

someone to translate what you

say to the class, to the student.

ADHD: Attention Deficit

Hyperactive Disorder
Do

more activities that let the children

move around.

Do

not have a lot of things going on at

once that will distract the child.

Play

classical music because it

stimulates the brain and allows the
student to do multiple things.

Single Parent Or Broken Home

Make

sure to encourage the child and

build their self-esteem.

When

they do something good make

sure to tell them, Good job.

Give

them a special job in the

classroom; that way they feel important.

Special Edu. Child with some

Regular Edu. Classes
Provide

opportunities to include the

child in assisting the teacher.

Give

positive reinforcement whenever

possible.

Schizophrenia
Try

to keep the mood really relaxed and

non-threatening.

Be

flexible in case an incident happens.

Choose

a kind and caring student with

leadership qualities to sit and assist the
student if needed.

Take

more short breaks as a class.

Low Income Family

Be

understanding as a teacher, and

know that it may be difficult for a child
to have the resources to do projects or
have the money to pay for field trips.

Get

information from the school if they

are willing to help the childs family out
with their needs.

Bipolar Disorder
Be

very understanding that the child has a

disorder and has needs that require
fulfillment.

Help

the child to calm down when

hyperactive and can be distracted. Maybe
pay extra special attention to the child.

Help

relax the child when they have anxiety,

and may have temper tantrums or rage.

Turrets
If

the child has a tick that may be more

severe or more frequent, allowing them
to sit in the back of the classroom so the
other students are not distracted by his
or her tick may help.

Giving

the child with Turrets some

privacy may help them not to become
self conscious or bothered by the other
students that may not fully understand
his/her disability.

Foster Care/Troubled Kids

As

a teacher, understand that the child

is separated from their parents or
guardian, and it hurts them especially
younger children.

Offer

to talk with the child about

problems that may be occurring in their
lives, and possibly offer suggestions.

Homosexuality
Control

kids that may be bashing the

child, or harassing them to the point
where they dont want to do school work
or participate.

Make

sure that the child remains active

in the classroom.

Religion: Muslim Student

Allow

the student to go to a quiet place

during the times they need to pray.

Dont

make a big deal to the rest of the

class, singling the student out; allow the
student to leave quietly.

Explain

to the rest of the class that it is

part of the students religious beliefs.

Vision Impairments
Seat

the student at the front of the

classroom so it is easier to see the
board.

Have

large print books and handouts

available for the student.

Use

technology such as audio devices

and CCTV (closed-circuit television).

Below Average Student

Allow extra class time in the daily

schedule for students to work, allowing
the teacher to have time to work with the
students that need extra help.

Try to get the parents involved at home to

help the student outside of the classroom.

Make accommodations for the struggling

student (i.e. reduce the amount of
homework or make the homework
problems easier)

Students with Autism

Make the rest of the class aware that the

student has a disability and help them to
be accepting of the student.

Help the class be accepting of their

autistic classmate by accepting the
student yourself.

Include the student in all activities

without singling them out so as to set an
example for the rest of the class to do the
same.

Developmentally Behind
Student
Make

sure the student is included in all

the classroom activities.

If

other students are making fun of

him/her, make sure you, as the teacher,
say something so it shows you dont
agree with it.

Diversity in the world is a basic

characteristic of human
society, and also the key
condition for a lively and
dynamic world as we see
today.
- Jinato Hu

Resources
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/commit

tees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/diverse.ht
m
http://www.helium.com/items/964617-addressi

ng-cultural-diversity-in-the-classroom/prin
t
http://www.medicinenet.com/tourette_syndr

ome/article.htm
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/kids_diag/a/red_

flags4.htm
http://www.dyslexia.com/library/classroom.