Diversity in the Classroom

In the third chapter of The Dreamkeepers, Ladson-Billings states "My own experiences with white teachers, both preservice and veteran, indicate that many are uncomfortable acknowledging any student differences and particularly racial differences." (31) As a white teacher myself, I can identify with being uncomfortable addressing diversity in the classroom. 

Often times, teachers are instructed to view their students equally, without bias, and to hold one set of expectations for all students in order not to set up an environment that attributes academic abilities with racial or cultural backgrounds. I have received this type of advice, but after some rich field experience and some meaningful readings and class discussions, I am not so sure that I agree. I think that it is important to not only acknowledge, but to celebrate racial and cultural differences within a classroom. This would not only work as a learning process for everyone involved, but it is a way to build a rich, tight knit classroom community - which I believe is important for supporting all types and levels of learners. 

Even as young as kindergarden and first grade, children have been immersed in their families' cultures and traditions enough to recognize if they are different from someone else's. In fact, in my current field placement, there is a student whose family is from Egypt! I think this is really exciting, but perhaps he did not receive enough support in a previous school or public experience because he seems to become very embarrassed any time this is mentioned in front of other students. Rather than ignoring these differences, which could make students feel ashamed of their personal backgrounds, I think students should feel encouraged to share their traditions and culture with the class as an enriching experience. There are many ways this can be accomplished.

I can imagine creating a classroom community that celebrates diversity by including a wide range of books by diverse authors and about diverse peoples in my library. Not only that, I would be sure to read and discuss these books with my students. I would like to establish a norm in my classroom that does not necessarily conform to societies norms that students will receive outside of school. This could also include weekly explorations in different cultures' histories, traditions, holidays, foods, etc. I would also like to involve parents in this process in order to make the sharing of each students culture important and authentic. I hope to be able to reflect on my experience in the college of education, bringing together the things I have learned, articles and books I have read, and resources that I have become available to me in order to make this special community come to life in my own classroom.