Diversity

Culturally Responsive Teaching is being positive and communicate of high expectations.  Treating all students equal.  Teaching with the students learning needs in mind.  Respect towards students and students having respect for teacher and peers.  Treating all students that they matter and can succeed and watching them succeed.

Three strategies I saw are:

1. Action thermometer where students are asked a question as a class and they get to respond by going to the front of the room if they agree, back of the room if they disagree and the middle if they are not sure or neutral.
2. Think, Pair, Share where students think of why they answered a question the way they did, pair with a peer to discuss their why then share with the class their why answers.
3. Bottoms up, heads together where students put their heads together while sharing and discussing answers or a topic.  Bottoms are out of the chairs and heads together in a circle.  Everyone is engaged.
4. Pick-A-stick where teacher picks a stick with a students name on it to answer a question instead of calling on raised hands.
5. Musical round the Room where music is played when the students are to change stations.

Teachers need to prepare themselves for teaching in a diverse classroom because diversity is all around us.  We can prepare by keeping an open mind, having back up plans, if possible, for lessons or change the lesson on a whim if needed for students.  For example if a student does not want to participate in an activity have something else they can do to learn the same topic like reading a book. Change the content of what the students learning needs are and communicate to students what they are expected to do and participate.