# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender nonconforming people are a part of every community and beloved members of many families. Learn how to discuss sexual orientations and gender identities with your kid, and how to support them if they're LGBTQ.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Talking to your Child about Identity: A Resource for Parents

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender nonconforming people are a part of every community and beloved members of many families. Learn how to discuss sexual orientations and gender identities with your kid, and how to support them if they're LGBTQ.

# data[].attributes.headline
Equity Committee: Understanding Our Initiative

# data[].attributes.subject
Equity Committee: Understanding Our Initiative

# data[].attributes.headline
Teaching MS Students about Bias, Diversity and Advocacy.

# data[].attributes.subject
Teaching MS Students about Bias, Diversity and Advocacy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

# data[].attributes.headline
Understanding Diversity Inside & Outside of the Classroom

# data[].attributes.subject
Understanding Diversity Inside & Outside of the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Taking the time to teach your kids about diversity and inclusion is essential. They'll naturally pick up on things as they age, but it's one of those things that's worth actively involving in your everyday life.

Kids start noticing diversity way younger than you might realize: one study found that 3-month-old babies exhibit a preference for "own-race faces".

As parents, it's largely up to you to help your children understand how to recognize and acknowledge diversity. This article will outline the steps you can take to make sure your kids are getting a well-rounded understanding of the world around us.

Here are our top tips for teaching kids about diversity...

What are diversity and inclusion?

Diversity is all about what makes us individual: wouldn't our world be boring if we were all exactly the same?! Across the world (and even in your local community!) there's a range of ages, ethnicity, languages, and genders.

While it's imperative to teach kids about being racially-tolerant, be sure to speak with them about the whole spectrum of diversity. Sometimes there are things you can't see, like sexuality or religion, that makes people "different" to us.

The important thing is to always accept and love everyone else, even if they do, see, and believe things differently - this is called inclusion. There are some people in our world who only like others who look and believe the same as them. This is a prejudice: thinking badly of someone before you even know them, just because of something like their religion or sexuality.

Why is it important for children to understand diversity?

We live in a society where, most of the time, bigotry and prejudice are not tolerated. If your children learn this from a young age, not only will they be respectful and mindful, but they'll also be able to stand up for their friends or call out any anti-social behavior.

Teaching your kids about our similarities and differences will also help them understand their own identity in a social context. They'll grow into global citizens who are empathetic and involved in the world around them.

Teaching kids about diversity: what you need to know

Under 5

Read books about diversity

Books are an excellent way to introduce your children to cultures and people they mightn't come across in their normal lives. Chat with your local librarian or your child's teacher, they'll likely have a long list of recommendations.

Popular ones to look out for are It's Okay to be Different, Whoever You Are, Where Does God Live, and The Family Book. Remember to focus on more than just racial diversity: explore topics like disability, family configurations, culture, and religion.

Teach them that diversity is a trait

It's important to emphasize that diversity is just a trait - not a defining feature of someone's personality. When explaining differences between your children and their classmates, use simple words: "your friend is in a wheelchair because their legs don't work properly" or "she has two dads because not all families have to have a mom and a dad".

When explained simply, it shows that diversity is just another fact of life.

Don't discourage questions

Sometimes kids are taught not to ask personal questions, as it might be seen as rude. But in fact, asking questions can lead to a child's deeper level of understanding about people who are different from them.

They just have to do it in a polite way, like "why does Claire wear glasses?" or "why is her skin a different color to mine"?

Emphasize similarities rather than differences

Teach your children that even though someone might be different to them in some ways, it's likely they've got much more in common. If, for example, a child in the neighborhood has Down Syndrome, point out all the similarities they share with your child. They might like the same TV shows, also have a pet fish, or love swimming.

Ages 5-10

Expose them to foods from around the world

Bring diversity into your kids' diets! Each week you can choose a different culture or cuisine, and try out a new recipe or find a restaurant near you. Pair your meal with a discussion about your chosen country, its culture, traditions, and customs. You're broadening your child's mind and showing them there's so much outside the world that they're used to. We've got some great geography worksheets that can serve as a good jumping-off point.

Explore your family background

Make a family tree with your children, and explore where your family comes from. Giving them an understanding of diversity within their own home will help them form an appreciation of different cultures.

Go to the museum

Even small history museums have a lot of fascinating information about different cultures, both local and global. Take your time going through the exhibits and prompt your child to ask questions. See if they hold any children's activities or classes to give them an even deeper insight.

Pre-teens and teens

Diversify your media

A lot of mainstream media is really lacking in diversity. Take the initiative to ensure that the books, movies, music, and TV shows that your kids are enjoying actually reflect real life. Find them age-appropriate books by BIPOC authors, or watch TV shows with disabled characters, for example.

Understand history

It's likely your child will learn all about slavery and the civil rights movement at school, but the typical curriculum just scratches the surface. You can do some educational work outside the classroom, with kid-friendly documentaries and activity worksheets.

Explain stereotypes

Stereotypes can be really harmful. With your child, write down a list of stereotypes about themselves - maybe based on their race, age, gender, ability, or nationality. It can even be as simple as: "girls love princesses", "tall kids are good at basketball".

These sweeping generalizations about a whole group of people are often inaccurate and negative.

Talk about the world and current affairs

Diversity comes from being engaged with the world around you. TV news might be too grown-up for your pre-teen or teen, but you can still have nightly discussions around the dinner table about current affairs, in a kid-friendly way. KidNuz is a great daily news podcast they could listen to for a little more insight.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Teach Your Children About Diversity & Inclusion - Inside and Outside of the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Taking the time to teach your kids about diversity and inclusion is essential. They'll naturally pick up on things as they age, but it's one of those things that's worth actively involving in your everyday life. Kids start noticing diversity way younger than you might realize: one study found that 3-month-old babies exhibit a preference for "own-race faces".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Last week, my son Aaron made the school soccer team. Boy, was I proud. And I couldn't stop saying so. "Good job, buddy! You're the best!" I beamed, he beamed, and all seemed right with the world.

It's not the first time my kids have heard me shout their praises. I'm the resident cheering section, their biggest fan, a back-patter extraordinaire. These days, you can find me handing out compliments as if they're sticks of gum-when my kids practise guitar, score a goal, help with dishes. The mom logic goes like this: The kid does good (or good enough for me), so I make him feel great about himself. It's called boosting self-esteem. Or so I thought. Here are some things you may not have considered about building self-esteem in children.

1. Step back

As it turns out, there are better ways to build self-esteem than heaping on praise for everything kids do-starting with helping them become competent in the world, says Jim Taylor, author of the book Your Kids Are Listening: Nine Messages They Need to Hear from You. To do so, though, you have to learn to step back and let your child take risks, make choices, solve problems and stick with what they start.

2. Over-praising kids does more harm than good

Self-esteem comes from feeling loved and secure, and from developing competence, Taylor says, and although parents often shower their kids with the first two ingredients, competence-becoming good at things-takes time and effort. "As much as we may want to, we can't praise our kids into competence," he says.

In fact, by over-praising kids, we're doing more harm than good. "We're lowering the bar for them," Taylor says. "If you keep telling your child she is already doing a fantastic job, you're saying she no longer needs to push herself. But confidence comes from doing, from trying and failing and trying again-from practise."

Samantha MacLeod, who has four boys, ages one to nine, believes constant complimenting can actually erode self-esteem. Either kids start thinking they're perfect or they try to be perfect all the time-an impossible standard. And inaccurate praise confuses them, she says. "If my son can't spell and I tell him he's doing terrific, he learns not to trust his own instincts. He also learns that praise is just flat-out lying."

Plus, Taylor adds, telling your child he's the best, the smartest or the most talented is setting him up for some very bad news down the road. You're creating an egomaniac who thinks his scribbles are Rothkos but, sooner or later, he'll discover he's not all that after all.

3. Let your child take healthy risks

Start by forcing yourself to stand back while your child takes healthy risks, says Victoria Sopik, CEO of Kids & Company, a corporate childcare service in Toronto, and a mother of eight. "To build confidence in the world, kids have to take chances, make choices and take responsibility for them," Sopik says. She sees too many parents trying to rescue their kids from failure all the time.

Sopik remembers staring from across the room as her two-year-old son, Fraser, lifted a huge jug of orange pop at a fancy party. "He was about to pour it into a glass, and I just stood there, holding my breath," Sopik recalls. Rather than trying to save her son before he had a chance to try, Sopik watched as Fraser spilled the pop all over the floor.

Then came the best part: Fraser found a waitress, asked for a paper towel and cleaned up his own mess. "He solved his own problem-just like we do as successful adults," Sopik says.

4. Let kids make their own choices

When kids make their own age-appropriate choices, they feel more powerful, says Sopik, pointing out that kids as young as two can start considering the consequences of their decisions. Sopik always let her kids decide on their own whether to wear a coat, hat and mittens in winter. "Once they knew the difference between warm and cold, it was up to them. They should have control over their bodies and take responsibility for their choices," she says.

5. Let them help around the house

In building self-esteem, kids also need opportunities to demonstrate their competence and feel that their contribution is valuable, says Taylor. At home, that means asking them, even when they're toddlers, to help with cooking, setting the table and making beds.

6. Encourage them to pursue their interests (fully)

Another surefire way to boost confidence in kids is to encourage them to take on tasks they show interest in, then make sure they follow through to completion. It doesn't matter what the task-it could be anything from swimming laps to beating levels in video games. The point is for them to stick with what they start, so they feel that hit of accomplishment at the end.

7. What to do when children struggle or fail

What if your child's self-esteem plummets when she gets cut from the gymnastics team or can't memorize multiplication tables?

8. Don't lose sleep over it

"So many parents have it backward," Taylor says. "They think struggles and failure will hurt their kids' self-esteem, but it's actually a golden opportunity to help build it."

9. Make clear that your love is unconditional

Let your child know you love her even when she fails or makes bad decisions. If all you talk about is performance, Sopik points out, she will think you only love her for her report card or the lead she got in the play.

10. Make sure your child's goals are within reach, at a level appropriate for his ability

That may mean suggesting he join house league, where he can feel like a star rather than being the last one picked on the AA team. MacLeod learned this lesson when her son, Alex, was in grade two. Feeling like a failure at reading, Alex was ready to give up when MacLeod brought home some Magic Tree House books, which were slightly below Alex's level. "He read one every two days and was so proud of himself that he went on to read the Goosebumps series, no problem," she recalls. Afterward, mother and son talked about how Alex's choice to practise paid off, and she praised his perseverance.

11. Offer appropriate praise

Although praise is often misused, when it's specific and earned, it is a valuable self-esteem builder, Taylor says.

Lorna Crosse, a former music teacher, remembers asking her choir students to keep a "brag file" full of praise they earned. Any time they saw their names in a program or newspaper article or received a complimentary note, they were to put it inside. "When the kids had a bad day, they would take out those words of praise and read all the neat things they had done, and it would make them feel better about themselves."

The brag file works because it shows kids specific ways they're special and teaches them that practise reaps rewards, Taylor says. And it's the practise-the effort-that should be the focus of praise, Sopik says. "Don't just say 'great play'. Tell him it was awesome how he passed the ball to his teammate."

And keep in mind that a little indirect praise, such as stars on a chore chart, can work wonders. Mom Nancy Botelho gets even more inventive. She makes sure her kids "overhear" a little boasting. "I'll tell my friends how the teacher said Margaret is so kind, or how I saw Bridget working so hard at tying her shoes. The kids just shine. Since they were spying, they know I mean it and I'm not just trying to make them feel good."

Your self-esteem checklist

Here are some of the things that the Canadian Mental Health Association says you can do to help raise confident-not coddled-kids:

Feel special. It's imporant for you to help your children discover their own unique talents and qualities, and to value their own strengths. But also teach them that feeling special doesn't mean feeling better than others.

Set goals. Teach your kids to work towards a goal and to have pride in their accomplishments. Provide them with opportunities for success.

Try, try again. Encourage your children to try things their own way, face challenges and take risks.
This article was originally published in July 2013.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 tips on building self-esteem in children

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Last week, my son Aaron made the school soccer team. Boy, was I proud. And I couldn't stop saying so. "Good job, buddy! You're the best!" I beamed, he beamed, and all seemed right with the world. It's not the first time my kids have heard me shout their praises.

# data[].attributes.headline
Cómo mejorar la comunicación con tus hijos adolescentes

# data[].attributes.subject
Cómo mejorar la comunicación con tus hijos adolescentes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cómo mejorar la comunicación con tus hijos adolescentes. Patricia Ramírez, psicóloga

# data[].attributes.headline
Como mejorar el autoestima de su hijo/hija

# data[].attributes.subject
Como mejorar el autoestima de su hijo/hija

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Con frecuencia y sin pensarlo, los padres fortalecen la autoestima de sus hijos adolescentes todos los días, al halagarlos por un trabajo bien hecho, dándoles un beso de despedida (asumiendo que todavía lo permiten) o al disciplinarlos por romper una regla. Pero todos tenemos días en que lastimamos el ego de los niños sin darnos cuenta o simplemente no decimos algo apropiado para hacerlos sentir bien consigo mismos. Aquí encontrará unas formas fáciles para ayudarle a infundir la autoestima.

Sea generoso con los halagos

"No les decimos a nuestros hijos con frecuencia lo que hicieron " indica la Dra. Adele Hofmann. Elogie a su hijo no solo por los logros sino también por los esfuerzos; incluyendo las ocasiones en las que no obtiene los resultados que desea. Además, estimulemos a los niños a que se sientan orgullosos de sí mismos. El orgullo debe surgir desde su interior, no solamente ser una respuesta a una aprobación externa.

Los adolescentes con baja autoestima pueden sentir extraño aceptar los halagos. Si eso aplica para su hijo adolescente, entonces haláguele con moderación. No le abrume con halagos porque parecerá que no es sincero. Los niños y niñas tienen un radar interno que les indica cuándo una mamá o papá están realmente tratando de hacerlos sentir bien. En todo caso, tendrá un efecto opuesto.

Critique cuando sea necesario, pero de forma constructiva

Pero nunca de manera hiriente u ofensiva.

En lugar de decir: "¿Cómo pudiste responder mal a esa pregunta en tu prueba de Química?"

Diga: "Casi tenías la respuesta. Con un poco más de estudio, estoy seguro que la próxima vez te irá mejor".

Pida la opinión de su hijo adolescente

Los adolescentes no conocen sus límites. Inclúyalos en sus decisiones familiares diarias e implemente algunas de sus sugerencias. ¿Qué piensa sobre el nuevo sofá que están considerando para la sala? No hay nada que les guste más a los adolescentes que ser tratados como adultos y usualmente, se sienten halagados cada vez que los invita a participar en el mundo de los adultos.

Estimule a los jóvenes a que cultiven sus talentos e intereses

Todos sobresalen en Todos sobresalir en algo. Permita que un hijo vaya tras su pasión, cualquiera que esta sea. Hasta los intereses que pueda considerar frívolos, pueden proporcionar oportunidades para tener éxito y una excusa segura para la aceptación de los compañeros. Generalmente, los deportes son un área para destacar entre las niñas y los niños. Pero, ¿qué sucede si el talento de su hijo es tocar el bajo en su cuarteto de música de rock pesado "Marshmallow Bulldozer", que retumba las paredes de su sótano todos los sábados?

Apoye su pasatiempo, tomando en cuenta que la banda o cualquier otro pasatiempo, no interfiera con responsabilidades más importantes como el trabajo escolar. "Los padres no deberían decir que no a sus hijos", dice el Dr. Robert Blum de University Hospitals en Minneapolis. "También deben decir que sí, para ayudarlos a encontrar formas positivas para construir la autoestima y explorar su propia identidad".

Las presentaciones en los bailes de la escuela podrían ser el boleto a la pertenencia de un joven, lo cual podría permitirle evitar medidas arriesgadas para ganarse la aprobación de los amigos. También puede haber elegido algunas destrezas valiosas (el talento musical no es necesariamente una de ellas), tal como trabajar en equipo, cómo presentar ideas creativas de manera persuasiva ante un "comité", entre otras.

Debe estar consciente de que, al igual que las emociones de los niños y niñas, el entusiasmo de los adolescentes por una actividad en particular puede ser fugaz. Hasta que su hijo demuestre un compromiso serio, querrá evitar comprar equipo costoso de primera calidad o pagar lecciones inmediatamente; ya sea equipo para hockey sobre hielo, una tutoría costosa para cálculo avanzado o una bicicleta costosa para carreras. Algunos adolescentes se sienten satisfechos al canalizar su idealismo en trabajo voluntario. Un Estudio del Departamento de Educación de EE.UU. determinó que de los ocho mil estudiantes de sexto a duodécimo grado, aproximadamente la mitad ha realizado trabajo voluntario durante el año académico. Cuando las escuelas ofrecieron u organizaron el servicio comunitario, aproximadamente nueve de diez jóvenes participaron. En algunos casos, la participación se incluyó en el pénsum de estudios y, por lo tanto, es obligatoria. Pero había muchos "adolescentes voluntarios" de las escuelas en donde el servicio comunitario era opcional.

Los niños desean sentirse valorados no solo por sus familias, sino por la comunidad en general. "Una de las formas en las que se sienten valorados es tener funciones sociales que sean importantes y útiles", indica el Dr. Blum. "Cuando los niños realizan servicio comunitario, reciben comentarios positivos que los hace sentir bien consigo mismos".

La Dra. Diane Sacks, una pediatra de Ontario, Canadá, lo ha visto de primera mano. Regularmente, envía a algunos de sus pacientes jóvenes a organizaciones que buscan adolescentes voluntarios. "Todo comenzó cuando un centro para discapacitados convocó a niños para que ayudaran a recoger y transportar a los pacientes", dice. "Dos niños de mi clínica me habían dicho que necesitaban hacer servicio comunitario para créditos escolares. Los ofrecí como voluntarios, y fue maravilloso para ellos. Muchos adolescentes con baja autoestima consideran que es difícil salir y conseguir empleo, pero si los llevan a un puesto como voluntarios, en donde las expectativas pueden ser menos demandantes y la gratitud se expresa más abiertamente, ellos florecen".

Para un adulto, el idealismo ilusorio de los adolescentes puede parecer ridículamente ingenuo, como "¡pretender que no existan guerras!" Por experiencia, usted probablemente comprenda que el mundo y las relaciones humanas sean mucho más complejas de lo que hubiéramos imaginado cuando éramos jóvenes. Posiblemente ahora ve los diferentes tonos de grises en donde antes solo veía blanco y negro. O bien, puede ser que los años hayan tenido un efecto opuesto, afectando su perspectiva. Cualquiera que sea su posición política, ¿no es alentador ver que un adolescente a una edad desfachatada esté decidido a cambiar el mundo? No obstruyamos su camino.

Caring for Your Teenager (Copyright © 2003 American Academy of Pediatrics)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Formas de mejorar la autoestima de su hijo adolescente

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Con frecuencia y sin pensarlo, los padres fortalecen la autoestima de sus hijos adolescentes todos los días, al halagarlos por un trabajo bien hecho, dándoles un beso de despedida o al disciplinarlos por romper una regla. Aquí le sugerimos algunas formas para ayudarlo a inculcar la autoestima.

# data[].attributes.headline
Como hablar de la injusticia racial con sus hijos

# data[].attributes.subject
Como hablar de la injusticia racial con sus hijos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Niños en todo el país están presenciando y sintiendo el dolor que ha causado el asesinato de George Floyd. Algunos son testigos del impacto del racismo por primera vez en su vida. Otros lo han vivido siempre. En cualquier caso, todos los niños necesitan poder hablar sobre lo que está pasando a su alrededor y expresar lo que piensan y sienten. También necesitan sentirse escuchados y comprendidos.

Asimilar todo lo que está sucediendo es especialmente difícil para los niños que tienen dificultad con el manejo de las emociones, la ansiedad o el procesamiento de información. Tampoco es fácil para sus padres, cuidadores y educadores.

Les hemos pedido a los miembros del equipo de Understood, nuestros expertos, educadores y jóvenes que compartan su opinión, sus experiencias y recomendaciones para iniciar una conversación sobre el racismo y los eventos actuales con niños que piensan y aprenden de manera diferente.

Es necesario que los padres tengan esta conversación, incluso si los niños tienen dificultad con el manejo de las emociones o el procesamiento de información. Proporcione la información de una manera que los niños la entiendan, y observe su reacción para cerciorarse de que no es demasiada.

Reconozca que el país está viviendo un momento traumático. Ciertas comunidades han sido más afectadas por el COVID-19 que otras y han sido tratadas de manera injusta por la policía y otros estructuras de poder. Esto es real. No es una opinión ni apreciación.

A los niños de edad preescolar puede decirles: "Hay muchas personas que están muy lastimadas porque no han sido tratadas con amabilidad. Ellos han intentado hacérselo saber a los demás de una manera calmada, pero no los han escuchado".

En el caso de niños en edad escolar, siga la pauta que ellos propongan. Responda sus preguntas, y si no tiene la información necesaria, dígales que se informará para poder responder. Los padres deben ser conscientes de sus propias emociones y prejuicios.

Los estudiantes de escuela media y bachillerato obtienen la mayoría de la información a través de las redes sociales. Pregúnteles qué es lo que han leído y escuchado. Permítales que lleven la conversación y escuche lo que ellos dicen. Pero complemente lo que ellos han escuchado. Pueden hacerlo en familia., viendo las noticias en la televisión, escuchando la radio o leyendo la prensa juntos.

Facilite que expresen los que están escuchando y sintiendo, a través de la escritura, el arte o cualquier otro medio con el que se sientan cómodos. Explique que iniciativas como "Blackout Tuesday" son para algunos una manera de que se escuchen sus voces.

Usted no tiene que tener todas las respuestas, pero no evite la conversación. Comparta cómo se siente usted.

La muerte de otro hombre negro desarmado, George Floyd, ha desatado una terrible ola de dolor e indignación en todo el país. Las personas negras de Estados Unidos estamos sufriendo, y esto ha sido así durante siglos debido al racismo sistémico presente en nuestra sociedad e instituciones.

En este momento, las personas negras estamos intentando determinar cómo seguir de aquí en adelante. Hemos pasado el límite de decir "ya basta". Se necesita un cambio, y ese cambio tiene que ser ahora.

Los maestros y las familias puede que se pregunten cuál es su papel en esta situación.

Mi respuesta como estudiante negra es que deberían dedicar tiempo a hablar con sus estudiantes y sus hijos para asegurarse de que se sientan escuchados. Aunque sea doloroso, tengan conversaciones provechosas sobre lo que está sucediendo actualmente.

No asuma que un niño por ser pequeño, aprender de manera diferente o tener una discapacidad no entiende lo que está pasando. Son mucho más conscientes de lo que usted se imagina. Hágales saber que lo que piensan y sienten importa, porque es así.

Nadie espera que una o varias conversaciones resuelvan lo que está ocurriendo. Pero todos tenemos la obligación de iniciar conversaciones con la intención de averiguar cómo actuar para cambiar las cosas, porque esto no puede seguir sucediendo.
Atira Roberson es estudiante de posgrado.

A la luz de lo que está ocurriendo en todo el país, recomiendo a los padres que sean lo más honestos posible con sus hijos. Los invito a tener conversaciones abiertas y sinceras acerca del estado de nuestro país. La transparencia y la vulnerabilidad son poderosas y pueden ayudar a iniciar el proceso de sanar.

Hay un grupo de personas en este país que luchan por ser escuchados, vistos, entendidos y respetados. Los padres de hijos que piensan y aprenden de manera diferente también están luchando para que sus hijos sean escuchados, vistos, entendidos y respetados en el entorno educativo. Usted puede usar esta similitud como ejemplo (cuando hable con su hijo).
Khalil Munir es bailarín, actor, escritor y artista docente.

Cuando uno como maestro no está completamente preparado para hablar con sus estudiantes cuando pasan cosas como estas en la comunidad negra o en cualquier otra comunidad marginada, Teaching Tolerance es un buen recurso. Generalmente participo en las conversaciones con otros educadores para poder comunicar más intencionadamente cómo esta situación afecta a nuestros estudiantes negros.
Shaquala Butler es maestra de educación general de cuarto grado.

Aunque la escuela está cerrada, sigo reuniéndome de forma virtual con mi club de justicia social dos veces a la semana, y el sábado pasado hablamos del tema. Lo abordé de forma real y sin tapujos. Antes de comenzar las lecciones hablamos de cómo nos sentimos, y casi todos dieron su opinión sobre el asesinato de George Floyd.

Quizás porque es un club de justicia social, se enfocaron más en su muerte que en las protestas. Terminamos conversando sobre cómo los líderes estudiantiles del club deberían hablar con sus amigos negros (aproximadamente el 93% de los estudiantes de mi escuela y mi club son latinos/chicanos).
Kareem Neal es maestro de educación especial.

Como mamá de dos niños pequeños, siempre me ha parecido importante enseñarles a respetar a todas las personas por igual, sin importar su raza, procedencia o color de piel. Abordar las cosas con el corazón y la mente abiertos. Es mi labor enseñarles cómo avanzar con amor frente al odio.
Vanessa Bertone es la administradora de la comunidad en Understood.

Pasé mucho tiempo pensando cuál sería la mejor forma de abordar el tema en mi diverso salón de clases. En nuestra reunión de la mañana la conversación se enfocó en que evitar el tema no era la solución.

El racismo continua porque muchas personas evitan hablar de ello. También mencioné que no hay que tener todas las respuestas. Pero que sí tenemos un lugar seguro para expresar nuestras ideas, miedos y preocupaciones, y en el que podemos hacer preguntas.
Shira Moskovitz es maestra de educación especial.

Soy educadora. También soy madre de un niño de dos años. Pensando en mis estudiantes y mi hijo, siempre he creído que una parte importante de la educación es aprender de los errores para hacer las cosas de manera diferente la próxima vez.

Ver lo que está sucediendo en estos momentos me rompe el corazón. Estoy horrorizada, pero lamentablemente no me sorprende. También tengo esperanza. Está más claro que nunca que la educación y la acción son esenciales para lograr un cambio social duradero.

Tenemos que aprender de este momento. Necesitamos conocer las historias y las experiencias de nuestras comunidades. Tenemos que acabar con los sistemas de opresión y construir una sociedad justa que no sea racista.

Pero el conocimiento y la comprensión no son suficientes. Tenemos que traducir lo aprendido, primero en empatía y luego en acciones que generen cambios. Esto no va a ser posible sin nuestro compromiso común de lograr una sociedad justa. Nuestros estudiantes y nuestros hijos merecen que hagamos ese esfuerzo.
Shivohn García es la directora sénior del equipo de impacto de Understood.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Opiniones: Hablar de la injusticia racial con los niños

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Niños en todo el país están presenciando y sintiendo el dolor que ha causado el asesinato de George Floyd. Algunos son testigos del impacto del racismo por primera vez en su vida. Otros lo han vivido siempre. En cualquier caso, todos los niños necesitan poder hablar sobre lo que está pasando a su alrededor y expresar lo que piensan y sienten.

# data[].attributes.headline
Como ayudar a sus hijos a desarrollar su identidad

# data[].attributes.subject
Como ayudar a sus hijos a desarrollar su identidad

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Todos los padres quieren ayudar y proteger a sus hijos. Sin embargo, lo mejor que pueden hacer por ellos es enseñarles a ayudarse a sí mismos.

Una de las preguntas clave de todo adolescente es "¿quién soy?". Los adolescentes experimentan cambios tanto físicos, mentales y emocionales.

Responder a esta pregunta ayuda a que tu adolescente comience a desarrollar su identidad y a desarrollar la persona que será en el futuro.

Aquí te diremos cómo puedes ayudar a tu hijo a desarrollar su identidad.

Permítele que se exprese

Si tu hijo quiere un corte de pelo o quiere utilizar ropa que a ti no te gusta mucho, déjalo. Estas son formas menores de rebeldía y le ayudarán a desarrollar su identidad.

Esta es una fase o etapa en su vida que necesita vivir. Puedes orientarlo a encontrar otras formas de expresarse. Tan solo asegúrate de que no cometa ningún tipo de violaciones de las leyes.

Indicarle que tome una clase de oratoria o que participe en un grupo de debate puede serle útil de muchas formas a un adolescente. Esto le permitirá desarrollar la capacidad de estar frente a un grupo y hacerse oír.

Esto último es excepcionalmente bueno si tu adolescente es inseguro. Estas actividades le ayudarán a mejorar su autoestima y destrezas de comunicación.

Piensa que es importante aprender a dirigirse de manera apropiada a una variedad de público.

Pregúntale sobre su futuro

Pregúntale a tu hijo cosas como: ¿Cómo imaginas tu vida en 5 años? Ayúdalo a visualizar que tiene muchas opciones en desarrollar ese tipo de estilo de vida, si lo desea, explorando sus opciones en empleos.

Mientras más hagan los jóvenes para sí mismos, más seguros de sí mismos serán cuando se trate de desenvolverse en situaciones nuevas. Enséñale a tu hijo adolescente a lavar ropa y hazlo responsable de una comida familiar a la semana. Con el tiempo eso lo hará más independiente y permitirá desarrollar su identidad.

Enséñale a tener respeto a sí mismo

Sé proactivo al momento de hablar con tus hijos sobre valores. No solo hables de ello, vive acorde a sus valores y tu hijo los va a internalizar.

Cuando las personas se sienten bien, saben defenderse y los adolescentes no son la excepción. Concéntrate en ayudar a su hijo a desarrollar destrezas para tomar decisiones y forjarse una sólida autoestima.

Felicítalo cuando haga un buen trabajo y cuando demuestre tener una personalidad positiva. Un joven seguro de sí mismo no tendrá miedo de expresarse.

Aliéntalo a tener un pensamiento crítico

Es importante que alientes a tu hijo a desarrollar su identidad y pensamiento crítico. No le digas qué es lo que tiene que hacer o cómo resolver sus problemas.

Lo puedes guiar, pero no puedes obligarlos. Ayúdalo a desarrollar un pensamiento crítico de todas las cosas. Así podrá tomar decisiones saludables cuando tenga que vivir sus propias experiencias negativas.

Tus hijos pueden estar lidiando con muchos problemas. Piensa que la adolescencia es una etapa de la vida en la que las emociones están en su apogeo. Los adolescentes necesitan ayuda para solucionar los dilemas de su vida diaria.

Los padres son una fuente muy importante para encontrar alternativas a las situaciones problemáticas. Anima a tu hijo a pensar con calma siendo un ejemplo de eso. De esta forma, tus hijos aprenderán a encontrar soluciones razonables.

Aliéntalo a administrar su tiempo

Los chicos aprenden según lo que ven. Si los padres llegan tarde a todo, generalmente los hijos siguen el ejemplo. Pon un calendario que indique las citas y los planes familiares e individuales.

Utiliza un calendario semanal y haz listas de cosas por hacer. En resumen, sé un ejemplo de organización para tu hijo.

En esta etapa, tus hijos buscan más libertad e independencia. En vez de dictar todas las normas, reúnanse en familia para fijarlas. Al permitir que los jóvenes participen en este proceso, les enseñas a desarrollar las destrezas de compromiso justo y negociación.

Parte de ser un buen padre, es saber cuándo darles a sus hijos su espacio. Deja que tu hijo se desenvuelva y pueda desarrollar su identidad.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
¿Cómo ayudar a tu hijo adolescente a desarrollar su identidad? - Eres Mamá

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Todos los padres quieren ayudar y proteger a sus hijos. Sin embargo, lo mejor que pueden hacer por ellos es enseñarles a ayudarse a sí mismos. Una de las preguntas clave de todo adolescente es "¿quién soy?". Los adolescentes experimentan cambios tanto físicos, mentales y emocionales.

# data[].attributes.headline
How Parents Influence Kids' Gender Roles

# data[].attributes.subject
How Parents Influence Kids' Gender Roles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Parents Influence Kids' Gender Roles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Problem with Parents, Kids, and Social Media

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Adam Grant's Advice for Raising Resilient Kids

# data[].attributes.headline
College Options with Diverse Student Population

# data[].attributes.subject
College Options with Diverse Student Population

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized Wellesley College's admissions policy.
For many young Americans, college is often the first time they have the chance to meet and socialize with people from other racial, ethnic, or geographic backgrounds. This can provide students with important experience as they begin the next phase of their lives.

Elon University Professor of Communications Dr. Naeemah Clark told 24/7 Wall St. in an interview that bringing in a student body with a wide variety of backgrounds allows students to learn how to "approach real-world problems with more realistic solutions. It just makes the educational experience deeper. It makes us better critical thinkers."

Diversity can also help expose students to new points of view and potentially shape their political preferences going forward.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed U.S. Department of Education data on the chance that two randomly selected students would have a different racial or ethnic background, or different U.S. citizenship status, at four-year American colleges to determine the colleges with the most diverse student bodies. Across all undergraduates nationwide, such a likelihood is about 69.6%. Among the schools on this list, the likelihood ranges 77.9% to 83.2%.
Equifax breach: Divorce, alimony and taxes: What you need to know 25. San Francisco State University How to 'freeze' your credit following news of China military hack
Many of the most diverse schools also happen to be among the hardest to get into. The average American college admits 55.5% of applicants, but most schools on this list admit less than half of applicants. A handful even have admission rates in the single digits.

* Located in: San Francisco, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 77.9%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Hispanic (36.6% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 26,531

* Avg. cost of attendance: $22,313
24. Boston University
San Francisco State University is one of the most diverse colleges in the nation. There is a nearly 78% chance that two randomly selected students would be from a different racial or ethnic group, or will have a different U.S. citizenship status. Of American undergraduates at SFSU, 36.6% identify as Hispanic. The other largest demographic groups are Asian (27.6%) and white (18.4%).

SFSU has several programs within its Division of Equity and Community Inclusion that aim to promote equity and facilitate intercultural dialogue. These programs include the Asian American and Pacific Islander Student Services unit, the Black Unity Center, and the Dream Resource Center for undocumented students.

* Located in: Boston, MA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (47% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 18,515

* Avg. cost of attendance: $67,879
23. Rice University
Boston University is one of five higher learning institutions in Massachusetts to rank among the 25 most diverse universities and colleges in the country.

More than 21% of undergraduates at BU are nonresident foreigners, the highest share among all schools to rank in the 25 most diverse. There is a 78% chance two randomly selected students will have a different racial or ethnic background, or will have a different U.S. citizenship status. Boston University is a very selective school, with an admissions rate of 22.1%. Nationally-recognized, highly-selective schools often have much more diverse applicants, which may contribute to a greater diversity of students.

* Located in: Houston, TX

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (37.7% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 3,992

* Avg. cost of attendance: $60,518
22. California State University-Sacramento
The only Texas school on this list, Rice University's American undergraduate population is composed of 37.7% white students, 29.1% Asian students, 17.6% hispanic students, 8.1% black students, and 4.5% students who identify as multi-racial. Roughly half of Rice Students are from Texas, which is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse states in the country.

The school has numerous working groups within its Council on Diversity and Inclusion, including affirmative action services, Multicultural Community Relations, and more.

* Located in: Sacramento, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.1%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Hispanic (33.3% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 28,813

* Avg. cost of attendance: $18,989
21. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
At California State University-Sacramento, students who identify as Hispanic make up about one-third of the American undergraduate student body. It is one of just four schools to rank among the 25 most diverse in the country in which the largest racial or ethnic group on campus is Hispanic.

CSU-Sacramento is a large, public school, drawing many of its students from Sacramento County, which is among the most diverse counties in America. There is a greater than 70% chance that two randomly selected county residents would have a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship status. The school draws almost all of its students from nearby, as just 1% of full-time undergraduate students come from outside of California to attend the school.

* Located in: Cambridge, MA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.2%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (35.2% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 4,602

* Avg. cost of attendance: $65,478
20. Columbia University
MIT is one of the most selective schools in the country, with just 6.7% of applicants making it into the prestigious institution. Its large applicant pool may allow the school to factor in racial and ethnic diversity more than less selective schools when deciding on which applicants to admit.

Massachusetts and Middlesex County, where MIT is located, are not especially diverse, but the school has attracted students from all 50 states. White students make up the largest demographic group among respondents, at 35.2%. Asian students make up the next largest group at 31% followed by Hispanic students at 16.9%.

* Located in: New York, NY

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.3%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (43.7% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 8,216

* Avg. cost of attendance: $71,972
19. Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia is one of the most diverse colleges in the country and is located in one of the most diverse parts of the country - New York City. White students comprise the largest racial or ethnic group of American undergraduates, at 43.7%, followed by Asian students at 21%, and Hispanic students at 16.3%. Columbia attracts well over 1,000 international students as well.

The Ivy League school is by far the most expensive institution among the most diverse. Its average cost of attendance is nearly $72,000 per year, while no other school on this list costs more than $68,000 per year.

* Located in: Pittsburgh, PA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.3%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Asian (38% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 6,589

* Avg. cost of attendance: $67,980
Least diverse colleges: Social Security: 18. University of California-Santa Barbara 4 quirky rules you need to know to avoid retirement planning mistakes Despite growing national diversity, these schools have the least diverse student bodies
With 38% of American students at Carnegie Mellon University identifying as Asian, the school is one of three colleges among the most diverse in which Asian is the largest racial or ethnic group. CMU also has a large international population of more than 1,500 students from dozens of countries. The school has a relatively high share of foreign students, with 18% of undergraduates identifying as nonresident foreigners when surveyed.

Carnegie Mellon has a Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, which "supports and connects historically underrepresented students and those who are first in their family to attend college." This center holds events such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series and an overnight, pre-orientation retreat to create community among minority first-year students.

* Located in: Santa Barbara, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.3%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (35% of U.S. students)
17. Wellesley College
* Undergraduate enrollment: 23,070

* Avg. cost of attendance: $34,990

Another large public university located in California, the University of California-Santa Barbara is one of the 20 most diverse colleges in the United States. Public universities tend to be more accessible to a wide variety of Americans due to cost, and UCSB is one of the least expensive schools on this list, costing just under $35,000 per year. There is a 78.3% chance two randomly selected students will have a different racial or ethnic background.

While students identifying as white make up the largest share of American undergraduates at UCSB, nearly 30% of respondents identify as Hispanic, and more than 20% identify as Asian.

* Located in: Wellesley, MA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.4%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (42% of U.S. students)
16. MCPHS University
* Undergraduate enrollment: 2,534

* Avg. cost of attendance: $65,966

Wellesley College is one of the Seven Sisters colleges, a group of prestigious institutions founded to give female students the same high quality education of Ivy League schools.

The school is very racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse, with a 78.4% chance that two randomly selected students would be of a different race, ethnicity, or U.S. citizenship status. Among respondents, 23.9% identified as Asian, 42.0% as white, 14.5% as Hispanic, 7.2% as black, and 7.0% as multi-racial.

* Located in: Boston, MA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.4%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (42.8% of U.S. students)
15. University of California-Los Angeles
* Undergraduate enrollment: 3,966

* Avg. cost of attendance: $49,645

The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, or MCPHS University, is one of three schools in Boston to rank among the most diverse. MCPHS has by far the highest admission rate of any school on this list, with 93.5% of applicants earning admission. The school focuses on the health care fields of study.

MCPHS University is one of just five colleges among the most diverse in which black students make up more than 10% of the American undergraduate population, at 10.2%. Among respondents, more than a quarter identify as Asian, and 9.4% identify as Hispanic.

* Located in: Los Angeles, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.5%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Asian (31.6% of U.S. students)
14. University of Hawaii at Hilo
* Undergraduate enrollment: 31,577

* Avg. cost of attendance: $33,751

University of California-Los Angeles, better known as UCLA, is one of three colleges among the 25 most diverse in which Asian students comprise the largest racial or ethnic group of the American undergraduate population, at 31.6% of students. White students account for just over 30% of the population who are not nonresident foreigners, and Hispanic students make up 25%.

Though UCLA is a large state school, it has a fairly low admissions rate of 14%. No other college receives nearly as many applications. For the 2018-2019 school year, over 113,000 prospective students applied to UCLA, while no other school in America had more than 100,000.

* Located in: Hilo, HI

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.6%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Two or more races (36% of U.S. students)
13. California State University-East Bay
* Undergraduate enrollment: 2,816

* Avg. cost of attendance: $21,095

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is the only four-year school with an enrollment of at least 2,500 in which the most common racial/ethnic group among American undergraduates is multi-racial students, at 36% of students. As you might expect, it also has by far the highest share of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, accounting for 9.4% of respondents.

Hilo is located in Hawaii County, the most racially diverse county in the country. There is a 77.8% chance two randomly selected Hawaii County residents will have a different ethnic or racial background. Hawaii is also the most diverse state in the country, with a 75.8% chance two residents are of a different race or ethnicity. Most university students come from the state.

* Located in: Hayward, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.6%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Hispanic (37.4% of U.S. students)
Web vs. app: 12. University of California-Davis Which snoops more on you?
* Undergraduate enrollment: 12,836

* Avg. cost of attendance: $21,267

At California State University-East Bay, there is a 78.6% chance that two randomly selected students would be of a different race, ethnicity, or U.S. citizenship status, making it one of the most diverse schools in America. CSU East Bay is located just a few miles south of Oakland, in Alameda County - the fifth-most diverse county in the nation.

CSU East Bay is one of four schools to rank among the 25 most diverse in which Hispanic students comprise the largest share of American undergraduates, at 37.4%.

* Located in: Davis, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.6%
11. Stanford University
* Largest racial/ethnic group: Asian (32.9% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 30,718

* Avg. cost of attendance: $34,435

Of the six large California public schools to make this list, University of California-Davis is the most diverse, with a 78.6% chance that two randomly selected students would have a different racial or ethnic background, or differ in U.S. citizenship status. The largest racial/ethnic group among American undergraduates at the school is Asian students who make up 32.9% of that group. White students comprise 28.7% of American undergraduates, and Hispanic students 27%.

UC-Davis also has one of the largest multi-racial populations of any U.S. higher learning institution. More than 1,600 total students identify as multi-racial. This accounts for 6.4% of the total American undergraduate population.

* Located in: Stanford, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.7%
10. Illinois Institute of Technology
* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (38% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 7,087

* Avg. cost of attendance: $66,696

Among all schools considered for this list, Stanford University is the most selective. Just 4.4% of applicants are admitted to the school, edging out schools like Harvard, Yale, and MIT. A large applicant pool may make it easier for the university to build a highly-diverse student body compared to schools with relatively few applicants.

Among the 25 most diverse colleges in the country, Stanford has the highest share of students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native in its American undergraduate population, at 0.9%. It is also one of just two schools on this list in which more than 10% of respondents identified as multi-racial.

* Located in: Chicago, IL
9. Stony Brook University
* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 78.8%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (43.5% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 3,026

* Avg. cost of attendance: $60,489

With a 78.8% chance that two different students are from a different racial or ethnic background, Illinois Institute of Technology is the 10th most diverse school in America. IIT is the only school in the Midwest to appear on this list. A large share of the undergraduate class is from different countries, as 18.8% of undergraduates are classified as nonresident foreigners.

* Located in: Stony Brook, NY

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 79%
8. New Jersey Institute of Technology
* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (37.5% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 17,522

* Avg. cost of attendance: $23,915

Stony Brook University is one of just nine American colleges at which there is at least a 79% chance two randomly selected students will have a different race, ethnicity, or U.S. citizenship status. The school, located on Long Island, has an American undergrad population comprising 37.5% white students, 30% Asian students, 14.1% Hispanic students, and 8.2% black students, among others.

Many of the colleges on this list are also among the most expensive. At the 25 most diverse schools, the average cost for one year is just over $47,000. At Stony Brook, it costs nearly half that amount, at just under $24,000.

* Located in: Newark, NJ

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 79.3%
Ask HR: Move aside, Google Maps: 7. Cornell University Why people still love their paper maps She said THAT at a company happy hour?
* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (33.9% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 8,532

* Avg. cost of attendance: $29,851

New Jersey Institute of Technology is one of the most diverse colleges in the nation, with three different racial groups representing more than 20% of the total American undergraduate population. White students make up 33.9% of this group, followed by Asian students at 23.1%, and Hispanic students at 22.7%.

NJIT has a Diversity and Inclusion department that promotes "self-awareness, mutual understanding, knowledge, and respect for others." It also has over a dozen identity-based clubs and organizations, including groups for Latin, African, Filipino, Korean, and Persian students, among others.
6. Johns Hopkins University
* Located in: Ithaca, NY

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 79.4%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (40.8% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 15,182

* Avg. cost of attendance: $67,613

Cornell University is one of two Ivy League schools to rank among the most diverse colleges in the country, along with Columbia University. Cornell is located in an area that is not very diverse, but most students are not from Tompkins County, where the school is located, or even New York state.

Cornell is among the most diverse schools with a 79.4% chance two randomly selected students are of a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship. Of the school's American undergraduates, 21.6% identify as Asian, 7.7% identify as black, and 15.1% identify as Hispanic.
5. Rutgers University-Newark
* Located in: Baltimore, MD

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 79.4%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (36.5% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 6,064

* Avg. cost of attendance: $67,603

Johns Hopkins University is the only school located in Maryland to rank among the most diverse. Of the American undergraduates at Johns Hopkins, 27.7% identify as Asian, 15.5% identify as Hispanic, and 8.1% identify as black.

Almost none of the Johns Hopkins student body comes from nearby, as 90% of undergraduate students come from out of state. The university is perhaps best known for its prestigious medical school, but even for undergraduates it is a difficult school to attend. It has just an 11.5% admission rate, which may allow the school to be more selective and create a diverse student body when selecting from its applicant pool compared to schools with relatively few applicants.
4. University of San Francisco
* Located in: Newark, NJ

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 80%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: Hispanic (29.8% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 9,142

* Avg. cost of attendance: $24,719

Rutgers University-Newark is one of just five primarily bachelor's degree granting in America with at least an 80% chance two randomly selected students are of a different race, ethnicity, or U.S. citizenship status.

Rutgers University-Newark is the only school among the 25 most diverse in which over 20% of American undergraduate students identify as black or African American. Among the other most well-represented racial identities are Hispanic students at 29.8%, white students at 23.3%, and Asian students at 19.5%.
3. University of Massachusetts-Boston
* Located in: San Francisco, CA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 80.4%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (29.7% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 6,704

* Avg. cost of attendance: $63,117

University of San Francisco is one of just two schools in which the largest racial or ethnic group, in this case white students, makes up less than 30% of the overall American undergraduate population. Several other racial groups have nearly as high a share, with Asian students comprising 27.8% of undergraduates, and Hispanic students 25%.

USF has one of the highest shares of multi-racial students in its American undergraduate population, at 9.6%. The college is located in San Francisco County, one of the most diverse counties in America, with a 69.2% chance two random county residents have a different background.
2. New York University
* Located in: Boston, MA

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 80.6%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (37.2% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 12,714

* Avg. cost of attendance: $21,777

University of Massachusetts-Boston is the only large four-year public school in America in which there is a greater than 80% chance that two randomly selected students would have a different race, ethnicity, or U.S. citizenship status. The college is relatively accessible, as it has an acceptance rate of 77% and costs far less than most other schools on this list to attend, at under $22,000 a year.

Black students make up 18.8% of the American undergraduate population - a share nearly 50% higher than at the average American school considered and the second highest share among the most diverse colleges.
1. New York Institute of Technology
* Located in: New York, NY

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 81.4%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (35.6% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 26,733

* Avg. cost of attendance: $67,865

New York University ranks as the second most diverse school in the country, with its American undergraduate population comprising 35.6% white students, 23.5% Asian students, 18.8% Hispanic students, and 8.9% black students. Despite the fact that it is a fairly large and expensive school, NYU is one of the hardest to get into, with just a 20% acceptance rate.

NYU also has a significant international contingent in its undergraduate ranks, with 20.6% of those students identifying as nonresident foreigners. Just one other school to rank among the most diverse has at least 20% international students.

* Located in: Old Westbury, NY

* Chance two random students are a different race, ethnicity, or citizenship: 83.2%

* Largest racial/ethnic group: White (31.3% of U.S. students)

* Undergraduate enrollment: 3,648

* Avg. cost of attendance: $46,971

At New York Institute of Technology there is an 83.2% chance two random students would be of a different race, ethnicity, or U.S. citizenship status - the highest chance of any large four-year college in the country. Of American undergraduates, 31.3% identify as white, 21.6% identify as Asian, 20.2% identify as Hispanic, 11.4% identify as black, and 5.6% identify as multi-racial.

The private technological institute, located on Long Island, recently established the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Task Force. The task force aims to "welcome diversity, foster equity, and promote a culture of inclusion" at the school. Unlike the majority of the most diverse schools, NYIT has a fairly high acceptance rate - 75.7% of applicants were accepted in the most recent school year. Nationwide, the average acceptance rate is 55.5%.

Detailed Findings

American colleges have, at least in recent years, have increased their efforts on diversifying their campuses and ensuring that students from historically underrepresented backgrounds have spaces where inclusivity is the priority.

Many schools have opened diversity and inclusion offices and started clubs for specific groups. Experts point out that broadening campus diversity is helpful to all students - not just those from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Dr. Naeemah Clark, Professor of Communications at Elon University, said, "If the only students we have in the classroom have the same exact experience then we're not doing anyone a service by giving them the same ideas and having the same conversations that they've always had."

Many of the schools on this list are large public schools that are located in relatively diverse areas, mostly in California. Colleges like California State University-Sacramento, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Massachusetts-Boston, University of California-Davis, and more offer significant discounts in tuition for in-state students.The discounts likely help a broad array of students from nearby communities attend these schools, so the diversity in the surrounding community is reflected in the student body.

Yet a large share of the other schools on this list have very diverse student bodies for the complete opposite reason. Ivy League colleges like Columbia and Cornell are on this list, as do several other elite colleges, like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University.

While many schools have to accept a vast majority of applicants, these prestigious universities only take in a fraction of prospective students. When deciding which to admit, these schools can ensure that they have a diverse student body to contribute to the overall quality of the college experience for all of their students.
24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
It is important to note that the questions students answered for this survey are not perfect. It can be difficult for surveys to account for the entire identity of multi-racial students, like those with Afro-Cuban heritage. "There's all these intersections of identity that aren't really picked up on the form. I don't know when we're going to address that, but it's worth conversation." Clark said.

Methodology

To determine the colleges and universities with the most diverse student bodies, 24/7 Wall St. ranked U.S. colleges and universities based on the likelihood that two undergraduate students picked at random would be of two different races, ethnicities, or U.S. citizenship status.

Data on racial and ethnic composition for U.S. colleges and universities came from the U.S. Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and is for the fall 2018 school semester. All race and ethnicity data is self reported. The categories included in the survey are: American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; black or African American; Hispanic; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; white; two or more races; or nonresident foreigner.

Using this data, we calculated the index based on a diversity index originally developed in 1991 by Philip Meyer of the University of North Carolina and Shawn McIntosh of USA Today.

Supplemental data on average cost of attendance in the 2016-2017 school year, the admission rate in the 2018-2019 school year, and the size of the undergraduate population in fall 2018 also came from IPEDS.

We limited our universe to primarily bachelor's degree granting institutions. Colleges at which more than 10% of undergraduate respondents chose not to identify as a specific race or ethnicity were excluded. Additionally, we only considered schools with at least 2,500.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Looking for an inclusive student body? These colleges are among the most diverse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized Wellesley College's admissions policy. For many young Americans, college is often the first time they have the chance to meet and socialize with people from other racial, ethnic, or geographic backgrounds. This can provide students with important experience as they begin the next phase of their lives.

# data[].attributes.headline
Tips for Talking to Young Adults about Race & Racism

# data[].attributes.subject
Tips for Talking to Young Adults about Race & Racism

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As children, many of us recall being shushed or scolded by adults whenever we pointed out people's differences such as skin and hair color. Or, we may recall a teacher abruptly ending the conversation when a question regarding race or racism was brought up in the classroom. From these interactions, we likely learned that talking about race was wrong. When teachers and parents avoid talking about the questions and concerns kids have around race and racism, it can further perpetuate misunderstandings, biases, and racial injustice.

Engage in open, honest discussions about race and racism.
As trusted educators, caregivers, and parents, we need to engage in open and honest conversations with children about race and racism. To begin, we must fully understand our country's legacy of slavery and how systemic racism maintains and feeds racial inequity in the United States. For white teachers and parents especially, this might evoke some anxiety. Much of this initial anxiety can be managed by examining your own understanding of race by reading books about race and racism, talking with and listening to experts, watching documentaries, and learning how (and committing) to address anti-racist policies and actions within your own community.

Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.
I find that many parents and teachers are worried about saying the "wrong" thing or not having the "right" answers. This is common. The first step in getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is to increase your own knowledge. By learning more, you'll be better prepared to raise and teach socially conscious and conscientious kids.

Children are observant and complex thinkers. They look to people around them including parents, teachers, and other children, to make sense of who they are and learn how people who look and don't look like them are treated. Research shows children as young as two can begin to articulate ideas about racial differences and develop judgments on what those differences might mean.

Encouraging the conversation at a very young age.
From as early as three years old, many children begin to verbalize what they notice about differences including skin color, hair, visible disabilities, and gender. Children also want to talk to you about what they notice! As any parent knows, these observations or questions come up at the most inconvenient and unexpected times - while you are busy getting ready for work, while riding the bus within earshot of many other people, or while waiting in line at the grocery store.

It is important to acknowledge a child's questions and observations, even if you don't have the answers or feel uncomfortable. Some back pocket responses are: "I'm so glad you brought this up, let's talk more about it when we can sit down together," "I love that you are curious about this and I don't have all the answers right now, but we can learn together." and "Hmm.. that's a good observation. I wonder where you came up with that idea. Let's explore."

Social awareness and empathy are learned behaviors.
When we keep the conversation going, we let our children know their observations about the world are important. It helps them develop social awareness and empathy. It helps reaffirm that it is ok to notice differences and to be curious about others. The discussions they have with the trusting adults in their lives are the most influential in shaping how they see themselves and others.

The PBS Let's Talk Series
I recently hosted a PBS Utah show called Let's Talk in which I interviewed 14 parents on their own experiences with race and racism, some of whom are teachers, as well as an elementary school counselor. In each episode, we talk about how they navigate conversations around race and racism with their children. Each episode reveals the triumphs they've experienced, lessons they've learned, vulnerabilities they've felt as well as some of their best tools. To watch each of these interviews visit Let's Talk at PBSUtah.org/letstalk.

Based on these conversations and my own experience as a mother and educator, here are 10 Tips to help you on this journey.

1. Examine your own understanding of race.
If race wasn't discussed in your household growing up, do some research on your own and reflect on what it brings up for you. The more you understand what race means and how it permeates our society, the better equipped you are to teach your children about it. For a list of adult and children's books visit Let's Talkbook list resource page!

2. Become comfortable with terminology and familiar with how certain concepts are used.
For example, race and culture are not synonymous. It's important to be explicit and provide children with accurate terms so they can learn how to apply them.

3. When your child brings up a topic related to race, don't be afraid to keep the conversation going.
This lets children know it is okay to talk about what they notice. Instead of telling kids to keep quiet, refrain from using particular words or make specific observations out loud, talk to them. Ask them what they noticed and discuss it.

4. Find opportunities to ask questions.
For example, when reading a book to or with your child, ask them why someone is being treated a certain way? Is it because of their gender or skin color? Let this lead into a rich conversation.

5. Let children take the lead.
While I recommend that parents intentionally initiate conversations about race and racism, children will often bring up these thoughts on their own too. It's important to spend time on what they've noticed. Validate their questions or observations ("that's such a great observation...") and then move into a discussion. Statements and questions such as, "I'd love to hear more about that," "That's really interesting, what made you think of this?" or "How did that make you feel when that happened?" are helpful ways to deepen your conversations.

6. Involve your children in activities to help them learn about their own cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
This will help them develop a greater sense of who they are, which will then enable them to create more positive interactions across various racial-ethnic groups.

7. Help your children to think critically. It is common for children to focus on concrete and visible features to describe others, such as skin color or assumed gender. Challenge them to think about other important personal dimensions. For example, if your child refers to a friend as "my white friend" or "my brown friend," ask them to tell you more about their friend (e.g., "What does your friend like to do?" and "What kinds of things do you play together?").

8. Recognize your child's limits and know when to stop.
Depending on age and attention spans, conversations with children about these topics may only last a minute or two.

9. Initiate a book club or conversation group with other parents who are interested in learning how to talk with their children about race.
Sharing challenges you encounter will normalize the difficulty in talking about socially charged topics.

10. It's OK to make mistakes!
Many parents did not grow up discussing race or racism, so there is quite a steep learning curve. You will stumble over your words and may share wrong information. Let your child know you are still figuring out how to talk about these important topics too, that learning is a life long process which you are committed to and that you are so happy you get to have these conversations together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
10 tips on talking to kids about race and racism

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Tips on Talking to Kids About Race and Racism | PBS Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Your source for teaching inspiration, blogs, and online professional events.

# data[].attributes.headline
Answering Your Kids' Questions about LGBTQ

# data[].attributes.subject
Answering Your Kids' Questions about LGBTQ

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When my son started school I knew he would be exposed to families different than ours and children different than himself. What I didn't know is that starting in kindergarten, he would come home with questions about whether boys can turn into girls and if there has to be a mom and dad to have a child.

Although I knew the "right" answers to these questions, I did not know how to phrase my answers in a way that my elementary school-aged children would understand and that would encourage them to accept their peers and their peers' families in a positive, non-judgmental way. I also realized that although our family knows several gay people we had never before discussed it with our children.

Knowing that many parents struggle with discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues with young children, Olivia Higgins drew on her experience as an elementary school teacher and mother of two children to found Queerly Elementary, an organization that instructs educators, families, and school districts on the best way to encourage children to embrace the diversity of their communities.

Higgins suggests discussing LGBT individuals and issues with young children in a casual manner and stresses that casual, affirming comments can send the message that you are okay with gay people and encourage acceptance in your children.

There are many ways in which parents can raise LGBT issues in the context of everyday life. Some examples Higgins suggests are:

1. Identify LGBTQ friends, neighbors or relatives who are out to your children. Tell your children: "Joe and Steve are coming to dinner. Did you know that they are gay?" This might sound awkward, but many young children aren't aware that gay couples are actually couples and not just good friends. Or, if a friend of your child's has same-sex parents, mention that they are gay in a neutral way. Just knowing that people they know and like are LGBT can promote acceptance.

2. If you have a close friend or relative who is LGBT and is comfortable talking about their life, ask them to talk with your child. It can be as simple as a person describing how they fell in love with their partner. Chances are the story will sound a lot like the way you and your child's other parent fell in love and seem completely normal.

[The transgender quandry that wasn't]

3. Share stories in your life when you broke typical gender expectations and address stereotypes when you hear them. Telling children "I like football and I'm a girl" or "Grandpa likes to bake cookies" during conversation and in direct response to a stereotype your child sees can help break down traditional ideas of what girls and boys "should" do.

4. Address any hateful or discriminatory statements immediately. If your child or his friend says something derogatory, respond in a similar way that you would if your child used a negative word toward another group of people by telling them such language is hurtful and inappropriate.

Similarly, if your child hears a derogatory term used by another adult or on TV, identify and respond to the comment. A good response is "When Aunt Sue said that Mary and Lisa are freaks and shouldn't be able to get married, that made me upset because it shows that she doesn't respect people who are gay and think they should have the same rights as Dad and I do to marry whomever we love. I want you to know that in our family we don't think any less of people because of who they are or who they love."

5. Go to a Gay Pride celebration or event during Gay Pride month in June, such as the annual Capital Pride parade in D.C. There are events geared towards families each year and they offer a great opportunity to begin discussions about acceptance with your children.

6. Use current events or TV shows as a way to inspire a conversation. When Michael Sam kissed his boyfriend on live TV after being the first out gay man drafted to the NFL, you can say something as simple as "I bet his boyfriend was really proud of him being drafted into the NFL." Similarly, discussion of the gay couples on TV shows such as Modern Family like "Cam and Mitch really find nice ways to show how much they love each other" send the message that you accept gay people just as you do anyone else.

7. Reading books that have LGBT families, stories and themes send a powerful message to young children that LGBT people are just a typical part of the human experience. These stories will also open the door to allow for your child to ask questions or make observations. Higgins recommends: "The Family Book," by Todd Parr, "The Great Big Book of Families" by Mary Hoffman, " And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parneff, " This Day in June" by Gayle E. Pitman, " What Makes a Baby" by Cory Silverberg, and " I am Jazz" by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings.

8. Respond to questions and concerns with a short, clear, and positive answer. Answer the question the child is actually asking without assuming what the larger question is. Some examples are:

If a child asks "Can two men get married?" the answer is "Yes." Going into details about the legality or illegality of same-sex marriage may confuse or even frighten some children who may think that it is a crime to be gay in some places.

If your child asks a more complex question, such as whether it is possible for a boy to change into a girl you may to ask "What makes you ask that?" or, "I want to make sure I understand what your question is. Can you tell me a little more about your question?" It may be that your child is wondering if a boy in his class with long hair is turning into a girl. If your child really does want to know about transgender issues a simple answer such is still the best approach.

Questions about why some boys like pink or why some girls like trucks can be answered with a simple "Because that's what she likes!"

If your child asks about how two women can have a baby they are likely not asking about reproduction but about the different ways in which families can be made. A simple answer that includes love for the child is a good way to answer this type of question. Some children might also benefit from a brief explanation of different ways in which a family can be made, such as through adoption or blending families.

Discussing lifestyles different than their on early on with children can go a long way towards promoting life-long acceptance.

The author is a Washington D.C. based mother of four.

Follow On Parenting on Facebook for more essays, advice and news

You might also be interested in:

Is that baby yours? Our family, made our way

5 ways to raise kind kids

Today's Headlines

The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When my son started school I knew he would be exposed to families different than ours and children different than himself. What I didn't know is that starting in kindergarten, he would come home with questions about whether boys can turn into girls and if there has to be a mom and dad to have a child.

# data[].attributes.headline
Addressing Sensitive or Controversial Topics in the Classroom 

# data[].attributes.subject
Addressing Sensitive or Controversial Topics in the Classroom 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Addressing Sensitive Topics (Parent Academy)