Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Ch.4 - Teaching Diverse Students

I think that it’s important for teachers to be multiculturaly aware of their students and the different backgrounds that they come from. It’s important to take the time to really get to know your students, their families & the community they live in so that you can better provide for their special needs in the classroom or to better understand their points of views as it may conflict with your teaching. Take a look at Ron Clark, going the extra mile by visiting with families & working with them for their students’ success.

Reading through this chapter made me realize just how complex teaching in a single classroom can be, especially on Guam where we have so many different ethnicities here. But it doesn’t stop at ethnicities. As a teacher you have to be aware of the different socioeconomic backgrounds, family structure, sexual orientation, primary languages, & also what genders your students identify with. Here on Guam, you get a little taste of all of that!

Check out this video clip of the movie, "Freedom Writers" based on a true story of one teacher's journey in bringing her classroom of diverse students together.

1 comment:

Leilani Appleton said...

You're right about Guam. We have the whole "enchilada" of diversity. I admire all the teachers here on Guam who have been teaching for so many years and still going strong.