Kristen+Diversity

Read the [|Introduction] to the Diversity Toolkit Web page from the National Education Association. 1. Copy and paste a sentence or two that you really liked (agreed with, admired the verbiage, could empathize with, . . . ) in between the two quotation marks: " the education community faces growing challenges related to diversity, such as the academic achievement gaps between students of diverse backgrounds ... " 2. Tell why you picked those words: xAll students should have the opportunity to be able to achieve at the same level no matter their race, culture, gender, socioeconomic background... x

3. Which of the issues did you have the most issue with and why?: *I tend to be most passionate about acceptance of sexual orientation - this should not be something that diverts from a student's ability to learn in the classroom*

4. Which strategy (or part of a strategy) will be the easiest for you to carry out in your own classroom? ^All of these strategies would be fairly easy to carry out because part of my job as a social studies teacher would be to help recognize and foster acceptance of the society/people around us... I suppose "Seizing the opportunity" would work best by being able to do movies, books or guest speakers about the topic at hand. ^

5. Which strategy (or part of a strategy) will be the hardest for you to carry out in your own classroom //and why// ? { Depending on the diversity issue - say its the sexual orientation one that I listed above, some people have a problem with you talking about that in school - faculty, parents and students could become confrontational, go to the principal or the school board about their issue with what I am talking about.}

Read the [|Cultural Competence for Educators] Web page from the National Education Association

How will you become culturally competent? Where do you feel you are now in the journey to becoming culturally competent? I tend to learn best by doing/experiencing and adapting to things in the moment and as they come to me. I think, as the text says "culturally responsive teaching is characterized by learning within the context of culture"

Read about [|Social Justice]. How do you think this information will impact you as a teacher? How will it impact your classroom?

Again, as a social studies teacher I will probably be covering topics like this a lot, racism, sexism especially and how certain groups have acted and spoken out in order to gain social justice...

Now work with your partner. Read your assigned Information Page from the National Education Association.
 * [|Class and Income]
 * [|English Language Learners]
 * [|Gender]
 * [|Race and Ethnicity]
 * [|Sexual Orientation and Gender Orientation]

Now go to [|Kerpoof] and create a story using one of the many tools available. Your characters should represent your assigned diversity dimension. Create a plot that has a conflict representative of one of the major issues as outlined on your NEA page. Pick one of the strategies and implement it in your story. Is there going to be a resolution? What will the ending be? Save your story to share with the class.