presentation on what classroom diversity is, importance of diversity and ways of supporting diversity in the classroom

1. DIVERSITY IN
THE
CLASSROOM
Presenter
MARILOU B. VALEROZO
Teacher- III
SANDIAT WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2. • A school culture where people embrace diversity in the
classroom can positively impact the school community.
When this happens, a school community creates a safe,
supportive and purposeful environment for students and
staff which, in turn, allows students to grow —
academically and socially.
• In an increasingly fragmented society, the ability to
connect with peers, coworkers and neighbours with
diverse backgrounds and abilities is invaluable.
Diversity improves critical-thinking skills, builds empathy
and encourages students to think differently.

3. What is diversity in the classroom?
• Diversity is everything that makes people different from
each other. This includes many different factors: race, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, ability, age,
religious belief, or political conviction. All these factors work
together to inform how students (and teachers, and everyone
else) encounter the world.
• The University of Rhode Island defines diversity in the
classroom as “understanding each student brings unique
experiences, strengths, and ideas to our classroom … Diversity
is the exploration and incorporation of these differences to
enrich learning in our classroom.”

4. Why is diversity in the classroom
important?
• Children go to school to be prepared for the workforce, so teaching
must effectively address and embrace the realities that come with
living and working in a diverse school, community and country.
• Not only that, but there are other research-backed reasons for
promoting diversity in the classroom:
1.Diversity in the classroom builds critical thinkers
• Diversity in the classroom helps students develop social
awareness which helps them appreciate different perspectives
and draw stronger conclusions. Challenging students to consider
different perspectives can also teach them how to interact with their
peers on a social level, and equip them with skills they’ll use for the
rest of their life.

5. 2. It improves academic outcomes
Diversity in the classroom doesn’t just improve social skills, it can
also have an impact on academic results. It improves critical
thinking skills and encourages academic confidence.
3. It helps students feel represented and included
When schools take inclusive and responsive approaches to
diversity, students are more likely to see their identity represented
in classroom materials or other students. When diversity is not a
priority and these students don’t feel included, they’re more likely
to not participate and feel inferior to their peers.

6. “To understand an idea is to understand the ideas
that surround it, including those that stand in contrast
to it. Idea diversity creates a rich environment for
ideas to evolve into new and more refined forms.
This pedagogical approach may help students to
appreciate and value all forms of diversity and how
diversity enriches learning.”

7. 7 Ways to Support Diversity
in the Classroom
1. Re-evaluate your teaching materials
• Which voices are speaking in your classroom?
• That is, whose stories do you tell? Especially in
the humanities and social sciences, teaching
materials can often be limited to Western, white,
male and middle-class narratives.

8. Do you use wide range of reading materials in
your reading class?

9. 2. Get to know your students
• All the students in your school are unique individuals, so use
that fact to build a diverse and inclusive school culture.
• Take the time to learn about your students: Where do they
come from? What kind of socio-economic situation do they live
in, broadly speaking? Are they meeting academic achievement
standards, or are they struggling? Do they get along with their
peers?
• With everything that you have to keep track of and work on, it
might be difficult to find the time to intentionally build
relationships with students — especially if you’re new to the
school or to a leadership position.

10. Here are some ways to start:
• Schedule time out of your day to visit classrooms or walk
through the halls. Let students know that they can approach
you with problems (or just to say hello), and then follow through
on what they come to you with.
• Communicate your vision and goals for the school to your
teachers. Encourage them to come to you with any questions
or concerns, and work with them to promote diversity in the
classroom.
• Show some school spirit. Participate in school events and
visit different clubs or after-school activities. If students see that
you’re invested in school culture, they’ll be more likely to also
participate.
When you know your students and understand their
strengths and weaknesses, you’re better equipped to help

11. 3. Be willing to address inequality

12. • Part of supporting diversity in the classroom is creating a safe
space for students and educators to talk about how issues of
discrimination affect them on a personal, classroom- and
school-wide level.
• The more diversity is a topic of discussion in your school,
the less students and teachers will hesitate to address it.
As a school leader, you’re in a position to lead the conversation
and inspire others in the school to take action.
• This conversation shouldn’t just be limited to words — in order
to make effective change, you need to take practical steps to
address inequality when you encounter it, such as:
a. Use language that promotes positivity and doesn’t reinforce
existing stereotypes. For example, the phrase “boys will be boys”
shouldn’t be used to justify sexism or aggression.
b. Respond immediately and effectively to inappropriate
comments or actions. Take infractions seriously and keep families
informed.

13. c. Model inclusion and acceptance. Encourage students
to include all of their peers if you see division forming
along racial or economic lines.
d. Remove existing markers of inequality in your school.
For example, make sure students who are eligible for
free or reduced lunch programs aren’t singled out and
made to feel different.

14. • Fair does not equal the same — fair means making sure that every
student has what he or she needs to succeed both personally and
academically. When you lead the conversation and follow
through with action, you signal that discrimination will not be
tolerated in your school.

15. 4. Connect with families and
community
• Schools are a central part of the community and should reflect
and celebrate its diversity.
• Communicate your goals for diversity in the classroom to
families. Ask if they have any questions or concerns, and then
listen. Invite them to identify areas in the curriculum or in the
school culture that they feel could benefit from more of a focus
on diversity.
• Reach out to leaders in the community that can offer different
perspectives, either as experts in their field, professionals,
community workers or activists. Consider asking teachers to
develop service learning projects that connect classroom
learning with community initiatives.

16. • When your students meet members of their community, they get to
see examples of people from different backgrounds succeeding in
their field and might be inspired to think differently about their own
future.

17. Other options for staying in touch and
building relationships with families and
neighbours:
• Host a community food drive. Ask students, families and
neighbours to bring in non-perishable food items to donate to
the local food bank
• Start a paper or email newsletter to communicate school
news and events to families
• Host a parent or family night as an opportunity to outline any
curriculum additions or special events the school is having to
promote diversity

18. 5. Meet diverse learning needs

19. • Uniform standards can’t apply to a diverse classroom, so start
working with your teachers to establish different approaches for
students with different learning needs. Some suggestions for making
sure the classroom stays accessible and equitable:
• Introduce adaptive technologies. Adaptive technologies make
learning accessible for all students. This can include anything from
speech-to-text software, talking calculators for students with
dyscalculia, or modified computer accessories for students with
physical disabilities.
• Encourage teachers to use different types of instruction and
teaching strategies. Techniques like project-based
learning, differentiated instruction and blended learning all allow
teachers to help learners with different needs. (For even more ideas
about classroom teaching strategies, read our Ultimate List of
Teaching Strategies!)
• Create opportunities for all students to contribute. Within groups,
have students take on different roles that fit their strengths. Some
students can act as note takers, while others can facilitate the
conversation.

20. 6. Hire diversely

21. • Establish programs at the district level that recruit teachers from
non-traditional programs and provide financial help and training.
• Improve the data systems that monitor diverse hiring efforts,
and reward schools that meet diversity requirements.
• Hire earlier in the year to reach more in-demand candidates
• Support principal preparation programs, including actively
recruiting teachers and supporting their professional
development
As a school leader, you can directly impact the diversity of your
faculty through hiring and recruitment efforts. Some of the
suggestions from the study for hiring a more diverse faculty include:

22. • It’s important to always hire the best candidate for the position,
regardless of their background. At the same time, work to
challenge your biases and assumptions about what makes a
candidate qualified. A staff that reflects diversity in the
classroom will expose your students to different ideas and
teaching styles, and make them stronger as a result.

23. 7. Support professional development
opportunities
Teachers will probably take on the bulk of the day-to-day
efforts to promote diversity in the classroom. Offer professional
development resources to help them effectively respond to
challenges and opportunities.

24. Final thoughts: Diversity in the
classroom
• Diversity expresses itself in so many different ways, so it can be
daunting to try and start conversations around bringing it to the
classroom.
• The good news? Your school is already full of students and staff
with diverse and amazing backgrounds, abilities and skills! All
you have to do is start highlighting that diversity.
• Start slowly and intentionally. Don’t be afraid to admit when you
don’t know the answer, but always try to keep learning and
growing. Listen to what others around you are saying, and look
for feedback and ways to continuously improve. Change doesn’t
happen overnight, but the most important step is getting started.