Jenny Kalvik

EDU 383
Strategies
June 9, 2016
Schools are evolving in a number of ways. They are evolving because the school
system that we currently work within was developed and initiated to educate
students from a different era. Todays student needs cannot be met working under
the model of education that has existed up until now. I am excited to be a part of
that change and education programs like Metro States Urban Education Teaching
program is the way that we are going to facilitate the change. While I can value all
of the theories mentioned in the book and find way to discuss how they can impact
student learning, it cant be done if the teacher is not genuinely interested in finding
ways to meet the needs of our modern learners.
We need to consider all current students Modern Learners seems to fit our
students because we have to acknowledge that diversity is the norm amongst our
students and doesnt just apply to urban areas. Students today are unique for a
number of reasons and it is important that we understand how to reach of all of
them. With that said, people of color are underrepresented in education and
implementing their perspective is one of the key ways to make school a more
successful experience for them and reaching this demographic is extremely
important because of the education gap.
Technology is a wonderful way to find ways to make academic curriculum include
the perspective of people of color. Especially for teachers who are seeking ways to
do it but cannot rely on their school or district to assist them. Being able to connect
with people from your community is a great way to hold kids responsible and make
connections with people and things that exist in their daily lives. Being able to
explore cultures outside of your community also gives students a chance to build

new relationships, compare lives and make connections to people they may
otherwise never get to know and understand. It creates conscience and
compassionate kids who become conscience and compassionate adults.
There are a number of resources that are effectively being used in
multicultural classrooms that can easily be incorporated by a teacher who is just
beginning to make their classroom more universal. Being able to find experts or
colleagues in other areas of the country or world is a huge resource for teachers
who may need help working with a particular demographic of student. Any teaching
who is making the effort to incorporate ways for their students to learn more
effectively is going to have a bigger impact.

I am a Behavior Dean at a k-8 school in South Minneapolis. We are extremely

diverse in many ways and it never seizes to amaze me how different teachers can
be. It is all about relationships and being reflective when I see teachers who have
the most achievement with their students. There are several students who get into
larger behavior issues because of their insecurities and abilities in the classroom.
Teachers who take the time to learn about their students to find out who they are
and how they will best learn dont have these lower level of behaviors. These
teachers implement Differentiated Instruction into their lesson plans and daily
activities. This doesnt mean you are going to be able to perfectly cater to every
individual need of each student but you offer enough variety to cover multiple
angels and bases.
This takes extra effort and it is always clear which teachers go on autopilot
and try to coast through a school year without changing things up. Teaching is
never going to be a career that you dont have to continue to have ongoing training

and development. I dont always think that all people in education fully understand
that and can be constraining to those who dont want to accept this reality.
Students are much more diverse and need Universal design in classrooms to
have need to offer multiple means of representation, expression & engagement
(Maloy 250). Even when a classroom doesnt have ethnic diversity there can still be
multiple levels of learners who have different styles of learning. Students will do
better if their needs are being met academically, culturally, emotionally and
reflectively. It is no easy task if you are going to put in the effort to make this
happen but the gains out-weigh the stress or hard work. Students will be more
engaged, learn more and there will be less negative behavior.