Diversity In The Classroom

I believe that our activity “Where I am From” poem that we discussed in class is a fantastic way to learn about the diversity in your classroom. I learned in class today that it’s hard/nearly impossible to just look at your students and know what their background is and where they come from. During our computer activity looking at the different accents and distinguishing where each one derives from, I realized that it’s easy to just assume that everyone has similar backgrounds. It’s important not to make this assumption but to get to know each student and maybe understand what their prior knowledge is or their style of learning is like. The “Where I am From” poem even showed me the differences and similarities between my partner and I during class that I would never have guessed. It’s a great “get to know you” activity and classroom community builder. Getting to know each other in the classroom can really help the environment be more positive and for the children to feel more comfortable opening up to one another.

In the Lenski article, it stated that ELL teachers should become aware of their student’s backgrounds before assessment takes place. I think this goes with not only ELL teachers, but all teachers. It’s important to understand where the students come from and how they learn to educated them as best as we can as teachers. Also, the Wheeler article made me realize how to address students speaking AAVE and to not think that they are any slower, less able, or less intelligent than a child speaking Standard English. It’s important to know what family they were raised in and what their dialect is; what they’ve been taught at home.