Jessica Erickson

Dr. Schoenfeld

ED 406AH

4 March 2018

Diversity in Education

Diversity is the inclusion of different types of people, such as different races or cultures in

a group, organization, and schools. Diversity is not limited to culture, but it also regards disability,

sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age and gender. It is important that teachers stay open

to all cultures and show students that many cultures are matter and are crucial to learning about.

It is important that school educators and students realize the diversity within classrooms.

Diversity is important because it directly impacts student's success. It is important for students to

realize their individual self and that they are important and valued. It is also important for students

to realize that they should respect their peers who are diverse. "This encourages the appreciation

of a diverse population and brings a sense of connection between disparate cultural heritages

within a school's single culture (Lynch, 2018).

The most important thing a teacher can do within the classroom is to accept diversity as it

is and become a role model for students. "Other teaches regard differences as important and take

an ethnic studies approach toward acknowledging them. They accept and promote differences in

an attempt to increase understanding and acceptance on them" (Gonzalez-Mena, 2017). A way to

promote diversity in the classroom would be taking a "multi-cultural tourist" approach. Teachers

who do this emphasize holidays, customs, etc. To show students different cultures that they may
be unaware of, and also to make the students that would not normally feel accepted in school,

accepted. A teacher could have books and pictures around the classroom of the different cultures,

so students are able to explore for themselves.

Another aspect of diversity within the classrooms are the different learning styles. "The

challenge in a diverse society is to provide information in a way that reaches all types of leaners"

(Diversity in the Classroom). Some of the different types of learning styles are kinesthetic, verbal,

and visual. If the student is a kinesthetic learner, they learn by doing something, drawing

something, or using objects. If the student is a verbal learner, they prefer to use words and writing

to learn. If the student is a visual learner, they prefer pictures, images, and maps to learn. It may

seem odd to some, but cultures relate to learning styles. Studies show that Hispanics tend to be

more kinesthetic, such as group exercises and group learning. Asians tend to be more visual

because Asian language is based on pictures.

It is important that teachers are aware of diversity within the classroom. Diversity includes

disability, religion, economic status, gender, and age. These cultural experiences that students have

within the classroom will have a lasting impact on these students and create new experiences for

them.