Accommodating Diversity

            It is possible for a teacher to accommodate ethnic diversity, religion values, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language barriers, and at risk students in a classroom in various ways. As a teacher, we must not point out particular aspects or values of a student. The values and the status of the student should be kept between the teacher and the student. Unless the student does otherwise, for example says something about their sexual orientation. Each aspect can have a particular approach to accommodate in the classroom.

            Language minority students often times go into another classroom and are English Language Learners. A school can incorporate language-minority students by having dual language programs. Often times this is English and Spanish spoken in the same classroom as the whole class. This allows English speakers to learn the Spanish language and vice versa. This program can also accommodate ethnic diversity. It is important that while learning a language that you also learn about the culture and other values these speakers hold. Another helpful item to use with language barriers would be to have letters to the parents in the primary language they speak at home.

            Students can have assignments altered due to problems that occur at home. A student could have parents who aren’t there to help them due to having to work or parents who just aren’t there for the children. This is an approach teachers can use when dealing with socioeconomic statuses or at risk students. Religion and sexual orientation tend to hold some very opinionated viewpoints. The teacher should teach students that people can have different lifestyles and choose different life decisions.

            I think it is important for the teacher to be sure students know that it is okay to be different from other students. Everyone looks different from the outside, but we all have feelings on the inside. As a teacher, I would offer students help who are dealing with problems. The issue of bullying can happen with any of these values and it is important that students know they have someone to count on and to know the teacher won’t gossip about it, but report an issue if it is serious.