racial diversity
The National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) has found that the classroom has become more diverse in the past two decades. From 1980 to 2008, the Hispanic population has grown from 6.4% to 15.4%, the Black population has maintained their 12% within the past two decades, and the Caucasian population has declined from 80% to 66%. In the future, it is predicted that nonwhites will lead the majority in future years which means a teacher's plans have to accommodate this change.
Harvard University's Darek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning have outlined four points that they feel will help teachers teach to diversity in their classroom. These include:
(1) Plan the course with the multicultural classroom in mind by considering syllabi, course assignments, examples, stories, and potential classroom dynamics.
(2) Find ways to make the actual classroom open and safe for all students, and to make the material accessible to all students.
(3) Learn how to intervene tactfully and effectively in racially charged classroom situations and to manage hot moments or hot topics.
(4) Assess conscious and unconscious biases about people of cultures other than your own.
One thing that they also recommend for teachers is to NEVER assume anything about a student based on their racial, ethnic, or cultural groups he or she may belong to. They also offer a list of how to prepare for the new year, what a teacher can do to make sure their classroom is open to all children from all cultures, and how to intervene in racially charged situations that may come up in the classroom. This guide can be viewed in full here.
Race Bridges for Schools (RBS) has also provided a video on tips to promote racial harmony within the classroom and how to promote racial unity amongst different students.
Harvard University's Darek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning have outlined four points that they feel will help teachers teach to diversity in their classroom. These include:
(1) Plan the course with the multicultural classroom in mind by considering syllabi, course assignments, examples, stories, and potential classroom dynamics.
(2) Find ways to make the actual classroom open and safe for all students, and to make the material accessible to all students.
(3) Learn how to intervene tactfully and effectively in racially charged classroom situations and to manage hot moments or hot topics.
(4) Assess conscious and unconscious biases about people of cultures other than your own.
One thing that they also recommend for teachers is to NEVER assume anything about a student based on their racial, ethnic, or cultural groups he or she may belong to. They also offer a list of how to prepare for the new year, what a teacher can do to make sure their classroom is open to all children from all cultures, and how to intervene in racially charged situations that may come up in the classroom. This guide can be viewed in full here.
Race Bridges for Schools (RBS) has also provided a video on tips to promote racial harmony within the classroom and how to promote racial unity amongst different students.
(Race Bridges for Schools, 2010)
Citations
President and Fellows of Harvard College. (2002-10). Teaching in racially diverse college classrooms. Retrieved from http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/html/icb.topic58474/TFTrace.html
Race Bridges for Schools. (2010). 10 tips to creating a more welcoming school community! [Web]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHDgHtNbU4o
Stevens-Truss, R. (2010). Racial demographics and education trends. Retrieved from http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/asbmbtoday_article.aspx?id=9210&page_id=1
Race Bridges for Schools. (2010). 10 tips to creating a more welcoming school community! [Web]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHDgHtNbU4o
Stevens-Truss, R. (2010). Racial demographics and education trends. Retrieved from http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/asbmbtoday_article.aspx?id=9210&page_id=1