One of my biggest concerns has always been not what I wanted to teach, but who I wanted to teach privileged White kids or underprivileged kids of color. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot 79 percent of US public school teachers identified as non-Hispanic White, whereas only 47 percent of all public elementary students identified this way. ProAct Indy, Why is Diversity Important in Schools? We learned a lot about educational inequity. Rock 'N' Roll Band by Shel Silverstein 2. Kwame Alexander writes beautiful books for kids and he is also a teacher! . ALEX WILMOT-SITWELL Quotes about diversity in the classroom We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Couldve been me at whom they laughed at and scoffed and the students who participated was the mind-blowing part! As an educator, your mission is to teach your students about a wide variety of concepts, theories, subjects and cultures. Caught me off guard For all the above, we must bet on stimulating gender equality and equity and to erase those stereotypes that cause prejudices to be present in a very harmful way. Although I personally think picture books can be powerful for older students, there are many teachers who still want more meat to their poetry resources. Your students get to see beautiful diversity and beautiful poetic devices in this book. from the wrong side of town, 5. it feels like youre doomed The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection. The teacher workforce that supports elementary students is far less racially and ethnically diverse in the US than the students they teach, according to data published in 2021 by Pew Research Center. One example would be an acrostic poem. 2015 by Anastasia Suen from THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong ( Pomelo Books, 2015). Share When to Eat Pan Dulce . What we have to do is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities. Itwas these two experiences that most assuredly informed where and whom I ultimately chose to teachor, should I say, who chose me to teach them. While you may already be teaching some aspects of a diverse or inclusive curriculum, there are probably also subjects that will naturally be best-fits for some refreshed material. I respect everything that you have written in this blog. I want all the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. in mind Diversity is not how we differ. If youre interested in an enriching career as an educator who embraces the mission of using diversity in the classroom as an educational opportunity, American Universitys Online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Online Master of Education (MEd) in Education Policy and Leadership programs may be a great next step for you. . than everybody elses, Systemic barrierssuch as housing insecurity, inadequate nutrition, and underfunded classroomscontinue to prevent students from reaching their full potential. We NEVER get paid to review products on this site. I hope you know that while your Diversity in the classroom refers to differences in social identities. Diversity is crucial for elementary school students to learn about because it helps them to appreciate the differences among people and cultures. Brainstorming before independent writing (5 min.) Here I amseven years laterand so much of what troubled me as a pre-service teacher still troubles me today. Writing a poem independently (15-25 min.) Are LGBTQ People of Color Invisible in the LGBTQ Community? It celebrates the diversity of life from Trinidad and uses tons of island speech in most of the poems. Ask An Expert Assistive Technology Career Readiness Child Development Tech Classroom Management . The following are just a few results from years of research and study into the value of including diversity teachings in the classroom. In America, when youre black and poor "I'm a great proponent of the powers of poetry," Mukherjee said. Check out these 25 classroom activitiy ideas to foster greater appreciation for diversity. Please continue to provide wisdom to more people like me. Diversity is required in our world otherwise where would choice be? The course will address the variety of ways these selections can be introduced and used to address concepts and skills that meet assessable standards. The benefits of teaching diversity are statistically proven to improve a number of student outcomes. Dont exclude me due to a lack of knowledge. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. dope fiends Students can be taught as early as pre-school and elementary school how to use accurate terms to describe their own social identity. Allowstudents to share their diverse stories with their classmates this will allow them to learn from each other and respect and honor the things that make them different. We have everything you ever wanted to know about alliteration, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, repetition, as well as rhythm and rhyme . fills them with clout 10 Ways to Support Diversity in the Classroom Examine your teaching materials: This is a natural first step for anyone looking to focus more on teaching diversity in their classroom. Without diversity, life would be very boring. set up to fail Doomed to go to jail! Maya Angelou. Ignoring the increase in diversity is not a helpful response. Keep the classroom stocked with a school supply wish list. Edward Kennedy What divides us pales in comparison to what unites us. Connect with parents and thecommunity. The first poem, To My Students, was written as the result of a lesson I taught about diversity through the analysis of poetry in an affluent White district. on the third rail 10. Each poem is written in Tupacs own handwriting. The poetry picture books below help you achieve both goals of teaching poetry AND celebrating diversity! Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together. doomed to grin and bear it desiring Whether it is a drug-prevention or other health-promotion poster, or a poster of a family reading a book, educators can communicate acceptance without saying a word. 15 Social Responsibility Quotes to Share with Kids, Picture Book Creators Favorite Authors and Illustrators, Anti-Bullying Chapter Books, Novels and Graphic Novels, Index of Anti-Bullying posts on the Storytime Standouts Website, Picture books about Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Picture books about Tolerance and Diversity, Welcome to the Storytime Standouts Community, Introducing Can I? by Jessie Nagra and Kurt Hershey, Introducing Tammy Kersey, picture book author, We are thrilled to introduce author/illustrator Scot Ritchie, Introducing Malcolm Harris, author of The Golden Crown, a Shubby and the Mammacs Adventure, Introducing Judy Hilgemann, author/illustrator of The Great Grizzlies Go Home, Bolstering Phonemic Awareness, Getting Ready to Read While in the Car, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, a SLJ Top 100 Novel. Im diversity embrace me and well journey far. Diversity simply put, is to have variety or differences inside of a group. Felix Adler, We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Teachers should discuss religious diversity in the classroom. Having a diverse classroom and having quality conversations about diversity can support mindfulness and tolerance in just about any student. Elbert Hubbard, (People) may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is build, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture. 3. Dont forget to grab a free digital poetry activity that can be combined with many of the books in this post. Hang classroom posters or display other materials celebrating differences in family structure. deadly disease These are examples of famous Diversity poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. This is a fun and simple way for students to use the vocabulary they are learning and write their own poems in the target language. Here are some of my favorite poetry books for middle and high school students. I dont know what what happened in class today was all about Diversity in the classroom may include: exceptionalities, culture, language, learning style and gender. He is a diversity practioner with an extensive, How to Spread Love Across Race and Culture This Holiday Season, The Truth About Anti-semitism and the Womens March. Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without. There are so many wonderful things about this poetry book! Pleading for youre oppressed. There are other titles (e.g., Pink Is for Blobfish) included that . During our introductory session, I limit the demonstration to sharing and discussing kids' poems. Chloe Pashman is education director of a CBO preschool in the Bronx. Allows Students to Feel Unique, Yet Part of a Group This point applies especially when diversity within the classroom itself is explored, discussed, and celebrated. Many community organizations host events throughout the calendar that celebrate different holidays, festivals or significant dates in other cultures. Diversity should be celebrated in order to help overcome stereotypes and encourage unity. A lot of different flowers make a bouquet. Search short poems about Diversity by length and keyword. There can be no substitute for actually engaging in contact with people who are different to us. Unity, not uniformity, must be our aim. Diversity in the classroom is not limited to the student populationit includes teachers, too. make. Several poems have themes and stanzas that make GREAT poetry discussions in class. "Happy Pride" by Lesla Newman from THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS for Gay Pride Day, the last Sunday in June. America has as much diversity in peoples as it does in geographies. You dont have to be a foreign language teacher to use this in the classroom, and a quick Google Translate will help you use the right terminology. Then have an open mic session where students get up in front of the class and practice reading the stanzas from this poetry book. and despair Short Diversity Poems. Why Is Diversity in the Classroom Important? These short poems also served as a means for students to practice their pronunciation skills. This openness and enthusiasm for learning from and about people who are different is something teachers must encourage and nurture. We. your opportunities are less My name is Tanya G. Marshall also known as The Butterfly Teacher. Disclaimer|Privacy Policy|Contact Us|About. Please see thefull disclosure here.*. Anonymous, It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. Teaching Poetry in the Classroom The first poem, "To My Students," was written as the result of a lesson I taught about diversity through the analysis of poetry in an affluent White district. Assimilation, not diversity, is what makes people and society strong. She makes snowflakes laugh, has onomatopoeia, and the title alone is great personification. Dreams by Langston Hughes 5. When such people with their differences in language, perception, and understanding come together in a classroom setting, we refer to it as diversity. We also need to educate ourselves to become prejudice-free. Simply put, diversity is everything that makes people different from each other, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability or religious belief. 5. For example, a child can proudly affirm that they are both Black and Korean American, having a mother who is a Black woman from Chicago and a father who is a Korean man from Busan. The Poetry Read-Around CONCEPT: Building on last month's "Listening to Poetry" activities, "Giving Voice" opens up the experience of listening to poems aloud by inviting everyone in the room to participate as a reader. This can be one of the more difficult subjects you broach in your classroom, but it is critical that students see their teacher demonstrate an awareness of inequality. Day-to-day, teachers can use targeted seating plans and cooperative learning activities in lessons to support this. Finally, the poems' length was also a consideration. The world is a huge place; full of people with various cultures and backgrounds. Here are some of the "Take 5" activities for this poem: *Play marching band music in the background as you read this poem aloud enthusiastically. Plus, the images are gorgeous! Jimmy Carter, Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. There are a growing number of diversity teaching professional development opportunities out there, and these can really help you start introducing these concepts into your own teaching. All rights reserved. Knowing where your students come from, their socio-economic status, culture, and issues that are important to the students and their families. This can lead to a lack of diversity in the workforce, barriers to social mobility, mental health issues, and increased poverty. To define diversity in the classroom, it helps to understand what diversity is in and of itself. However, there are a few poems included in the book that have content about sex and racism in America. The topics range from politics to love to not giving up on your dreams. just going through motions, 7 percent of US public school teachers identified as Black, whereas 15 percent of public elementary students identified as Black. As we teach children to prepare for college or the workplace, teachers must address and embrace living and working in a diverse country. or their bank account is fatter Unfortunately, these are not universally taught concepts, so teachers dont have as many resources at their disposal. Celebrate diversity by acknowledging it and allowing children to celebrate it at school. When working and learning with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, students gain a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Unlimited Squirrels in I Lost My Tooth! Valuing inclusion in the classroom can help to create a more respectful learning environment for everyone. has found their voice through poetry writing. He left that world to teach history in a New York City public high school for 13 years, from which he recently retired. This post shares some of my favorite poetry books that celebrate diversity while also teaching important elements of reading poems. Im swift. Ive always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things. they have an abundance of resources including lessons, professional development, and publications for K-12 educators. to buy your food Marco Bizzarri Doomed to be fat! it. Seems that ideology went Hey teacher friends! Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee 8. Poetry has a powerful way of igniting a deeper understanding and appreciation for reading. Keep the classroom stocked with a school supply wish list. Diversity: the art of thinking independently together. This is a strategy that many feel they have mastered but getting to know your students is more than just knowing their name. It can only be conquered by recognizing and claiming the wealth of values it represents for all." Aberjhani, Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays Im invisible at times and yet all over the place. To help you get started, here is our quick guide to teaching diversity in the classroom. Share Laughing" 2015 by Cynthia Grady from THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong ( Pomelo Books, 2015), Share "Preparamos pan" based on Making Bread by Debbie Reese from THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong (Pomelo Books, 2015), Time to eat?