Urban Educator Who is Committed to Diversity
Effective urban educators are committed to meet the needs of a diverse population.
InTASC Standards
Standard #3: Learning Environments
The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
I am a firm believer that we are far more alike than we are different. I had the opportunity to live in Germany for three years and to teach in an international preschool. It was a wonderful and eye opening experience. I had students from around the world and it made me really appreciate not only our common humanity but our wonderful cultural differences. As an educator, it is my responsibility to teach my students to see those similarities while celebrating what makes us different and unique. This can be done in many ways. One of the most obvious is the daily use of materials that celebrate similarities and diversity. Students need to see not only people like themselves, but to also see a range of humanity in the books they read, the problems they solve, the projects they do and the assessments they take. Celebrating diversity and appreciating it is not something that should be done in a particular month, but should be fully integrated in to the daily experience. One of my favorite projects was integrating the app Walter’s Flying Bus into my ASD categorical room. Walter’s Flying Bus tells the story of a group of African orphans. Each of the children has a unique story as well as abilities and disabilities and is based a real child. My students immediately connected with the characters and their stories. We used the tale as a starting off point to learn about different parts of literature and writing as well as what life in an orphanage and in Africa is like. I think it is important that all students develop a point of view that encompasses a world that is much larger than their little neck of the woods.
Diversity thrives when a community embraces all of the learners in its breadth and width. In my Class Room Managemengt plans, I articulate my vision for how this learning community encompasses learners of all ages and abilities. This community should be a safe place were all feel welcomed and a part of a larger family. To do this requires the following:
It is important to teach that diversity is more than just racial and cultural. It is male/female and sexual orientation. Diversity is special needs verses neuro-typical and all kinds of different learning styles. It is differences of living in a rural setting rather than a suburban and urban setting. It is religion of any flavor or having no religion at all. In the end it all circles back to the Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote:
"The secret in education lies in respecting the student."
- Walter's Flying Bus
- Class Room Management - Elementary ASD Room
- Class Room Management - Elementary General Ed.
- Class Room Management - MIddle School Resource Room
Diversity thrives when a community embraces all of the learners in its breadth and width. In my Class Room Managemengt plans, I articulate my vision for how this learning community encompasses learners of all ages and abilities. This community should be a safe place were all feel welcomed and a part of a larger family. To do this requires the following:
- All students are active participants in the classroom
- Students need to contribute to and build on one another’s efforts to build their knowledge.
- Discussion and collaboration between students is needed and necessary.
- Diversity in students interests and rates of learning is expected and respected
- No one has the exclusive responsibility of teaching. This is shared between the students and the teacher.
- All learners are potential resources for others.
- The teacher as well as other students offer guidance and direction for classroom activities
- Students regularly share and critique each other’s work. This can be done utilizing the computer.
- The process is as important and sometimes more so than the product.
- Humor is an essential component.
It is important to teach that diversity is more than just racial and cultural. It is male/female and sexual orientation. Diversity is special needs verses neuro-typical and all kinds of different learning styles. It is differences of living in a rural setting rather than a suburban and urban setting. It is religion of any flavor or having no religion at all. In the end it all circles back to the Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote:
"The secret in education lies in respecting the student."