# data[].attributes.body
This image reminds me of our in-class conversations about culturally relevant pedagogy and what can be done to promote culturally responsive education.

# data[].attributes.body
This book describes different ways to implement digital storytelling in the classroom and the different impacts it can have on students' learning and how it promotes critical thinking and student engagement.

# data[].attributes.body
This article details how to lead Uncomfortable class discussions. This article reminded me of the Tolentino text we read in class because it explained some ways to talk to students about difficult topics and be informative to them without being insensitive or inappropriate about that topic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As educators, we want our students to be able to discuss sensitive topics that are centered in their own values and those of their classmates. This experience-particularly during emotionally charged times like the one we are encountering now-is a critical part of learning, and it's essential for students' personal and professional development.

Yet while we recognize the importance of these discussions, pursuing what could be an unpredictable and uncomfortable conversation is admittedly intimidating. After all, we have class dynamics, student relationships, and our own reputation on the line.

An important first step in encouraging these challenging yet necessary conversations is to establish a shared set of norms with students at the beginning of your course. The next step is to determine how to reinforce these norms throughout the course and lead difficult discussions when they happen.

Here, I'll suggest some strategies for how educators can effectively lead challenging classroom conversations. I'll also offer specific examples of what to say to students at particular moments in class.

At the Beginning of Class

If you plan to discuss a sensitive topic or anticipate a challenging conversation, refer back to the norms set at the beginning of the course, such as the four Cs: curiosity, candor, courtesy, and courage.

It's important to remember that by asking students to express their views candidly, we're asking them to be vulnerable. One of the fears students may have is being misunderstood or being unable to respond after making their initial point. I assure students that they will have a chance to come back into the conversation, and I always look for their raised hand in case they would like to respond.

Some other possible prompts include the following:

"It takes courage to voice our candid perspectives, and it takes even more courage to listen to and understand perspectives that are different from-or are in opposition to-ours."

"Listening and understanding is not the same as agreeing. Being willing to listen and understand is how learning happens. Learning takes courage."

"Let's be mindful to express our opinions and respond to others with courtesy, assuming good intentions behind each comment."

"While none of us mean to offend, it can happen unintentionally. Since we are in a learning environment, I ask you to let us know if you feel offended. I recognize that it is difficult to voice, and you might be concerned about coming across as overly sensitive. It is also hard to hear without feeling defensive. Yet voicing it and hearing it are important parts of our learning-so we must do so, and do so courteously."

If you discussed sensitive topics in earlier sessions, affirm and build on your willingness to engage in difficult conversations as a class:

"Remember that meaningful and impactful conversations are not meant to be comfortable. If we are all feeling comfortable, are we even talking about what truly matters? Or are we just raising points on which we can all agree?"

"Difficult conversations do not need to go smoothly-what's important is that we are working through it together as a class."

"Leading discussions about sensitive topics takes practice. You don't need to do it perfectly-what's important is that you keep doing it."

Alexandra Sedlovskaya

During Class Discussion

An opportunity to discuss a sensitive topic may arise unexpectedly in class. When these opportunities surface, I strive to recognize and approach them as learning gifts. This doesn't necessarily mean pursuing them in the moment-instead, you may acknowledge the important issue raised, and then let students know you will devote the time it deserves in your next session.

Regardless of whether the discussion is planned or spontaneous, challenging moments can arise. Consistent with our fight or flight response, we might be prone to overreact or underreact. Reprimanding a student can adversely impact the student and undermine a safe learning environment. Not responding at all may signal that an instructor condones the comment or shares the bias, leading to a similarly negative outcome.

When considering how to respond to challenging moments, pay attention to the following:

Be aware of cultural differences and language barriers. It might be a matter of just paraphrasing the comment (referring to customers as "low-income" rather than "low-class," for example).

Remember that students might be forming and articulating their opinions for the first time, and how they phrase their thoughts might be different from how they mean to express their position. I tell students that the beauty of our classroom is that we have an opportunity to try multiple takes ("let's have another take at it") and learn in the process.

When a student brings up a controversial or unpopular opinion, acknowledge that others may hold the same viewpoint and feel reluctant to voice it. Consider thanking the student for raising the issue and sparking an important discussion that advances class learning.

When a comment comes across as inappropriate, recognize the role of our own interpretation and approach the comment with a benefit of the doubt and curiosity. You might say, "Tell us more about what you are thinking." "What underlying assumptions are you making here?" "Is it always the case?" "What do others in class think?"

Expect that emotions may get high. We get emotional about issues that are important to us, especially when our identities are implicated. Rather than shying away from it, we learn from those emotions. As an instructor, you can step back and say, "Look, we're getting very emotional about this. Let's step back and discuss why."

Know that you have powerful nonverbal ways to respond. Just a brief pause or a surprised look may signal to students a need to reassess their responses and can provide an opportunity to self-correct in the moment.

To help put this advice into practice, here's an example from my own experience. When an international student asked this question during one of my class discussions-"Why are we still talking about racism in the United States when the country had a Black president for two terms?"-many students were visibly shocked and outraged. I acknowledged the strong reaction and promised to come back to why we might have had this response.

Then, explicitly recognizing the importance of exploring this question, I asked the student to say more about the connection he was drawing before opening the discussion to the class. We also stepped back and discussed the initial class reaction-what inferences did we immediately make when hearing the question and why? This experience deepened class understanding not only of different forms of racism, but also of how the fear of being perceived as racist can hold us back from having these important conversations. I thanked the student for raising the question that sparked our discussion, and his hand went up: "I'd like to change my mind. I get it now."

At the End of the Discussion

Discussions of sensitive topics can feel especially scary if you don't have an exit strategy. I tell my students that our primary goal as a class isn't to achieve agreement at the end of our discussion, but rather to deepen our understanding and broaden our thinking. Here are a few things to consider doing:

Thank your students for engaging openly and respectfully with tough issues that truly matter.

Synthesize key insights that may elucidate underlying tensions, core arguments, assumptions, and implications.

Encourage students to continue reflecting beyond the session.

Preparing for challenging moments-both expected and unexpected-can ease the anxiety that often prevents us from pursuing difficult conversations. It helps to have a repertoire of strategies that you may adapt in those moments. Leading discussions about sensitive topics also takes practice. You don't need to do it perfectly-what's important is that you keep doing it. Your students then learn not only from these discussions but also from your approach to engaging with tough issues that matter.

For additional advice and useful prompts for managing challenging moments in the classroom, check out the Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning's collection of diversity and inclusion resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Lead Uncomfortable Class Discussions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As educators, we want our students to be able to discuss sensitive topics that are centered in their own values and those of their classmates. This experience-particularly during emotionally charged times like the one we are encountering now-is a critical part of learning, and it's essential for students' personal and professional development.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose this image to be in this padlet because it reminded me how important it is to put our students' needs before our personal gains. Students have a lot going on in their lives so it is important to map our plans around how they are doing and how well they are grasping the material.

# data[].attributes.body
This website is a link to scholastic magazines that teachers could use in their classrooms to have students read about diversity, different cultures, and new world events. This helps them with their global perspective and keep them engaged while learning about something new.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
With Magazines+, you get fresh, high-interest content delivered all year long-in print, online or both. Every single story, video and activity is designed to hook your students and keep them engaged. And because Magazines+ complements your curriculum, it's easy to implement during any part of the school day!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scholastic Classroom & News Magazines | Subscribe Now!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With Magazines+, you get fresh, high-interest content delivered all year long-in print, online or both. Every single story, video and activity is designed to hook your students and keep them engaged. And because Magazines+ complements your curriculum, it's easy to implement during any part of the school day!

# data[].attributes.body
This book talks about different languages and cultures in the classroom and their incorporation (and lack thereof) in the classroom. This book has different chapters written by scholars of different cultures and identiites and outlines their expereinces in the classroom and how it has impacted them. Overall, the book is split into 3 parts; "Language and Identity", "Language in the Classroom" and "Teacher Knowledge".

# data[].attributes.body
This video does an excellent job in explaining WHY we want to implement Multiliteracies in the classroom. In one minute it explains what we contribute to students leaning and what will students gain.

# data[].attributes.body
This website describes the importance of implementing multimodal literacy in the classroom, specifically focusing on video games. It describes advantages such as keeping students engaged, allowing students to explore fields within STEM, learn from failure, provide experimental learning and help learn more complex topics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Reasons Video Games Should Be More Widely Used In School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A Texas A&M video game designer and scholar says video game play among students should be expanded during the school day.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
5 Reasons Video Games Should Be More Widely Used In School

# data[].attributes.body
This article describes the benifits students get from learning about other cultures from a young age. One of my biggest takeways from this article was the point made about multicultural education opening up the eyes of students to the differences among others and explaining to them while they are young and impressionable that it is okay to be different (in fact, encouraged) and learning about others can help you grow as a person and meet amazing people along the way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Drexel University School of Education
Cultural diversity in the classroom is on the rise. In 2014, U.S. public schools hit a minority majority milestone with Latino, African-American, and Asian students having surpassed the number of white students. In 2044, the U.S. Census predicts that over half of the nation's population will be people of color, so this trend will likely continue.

In our increasingly diverse and multicultural society, it's more important than ever for teachers to incorporate culturally responsive instruction in the classroom -- whether teaching elementary school, middle school or high school students. And the increase of diversity doesn't only relate to race and ethnicity; it can include students of different religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and language background.

Interested in becoming a teacher? Learn more about Drexel's Teacher Certification program.

Why is it Important to Encourage Diversity in Schools and Workplaces?

Fostering inclusion and awareness around multicultural education and taking a culturally responsive approach to teaching benefits all students. Not only does creating greater multicultural awareness and inclusion help students with different backgrounds and needs succeed, but it encourages acceptance and helps prepare students to thrive in an exponentially diverse world. Our Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Certificate Program is a great opportunity for teachers to learn how to create positive classroom environments and can serve as a foundation for understanding how to promote diversity in your classroom.

Diversity in and out of the classroom will continue to grow, so it's essential we prepare students to adapt to an evolving world and embrace those different from themselves. Learn more how the programs at the Drexel School of Education are helping to prepare more culturally-responsive educators today.

How do you Manage Diversity in the Classroom?

There are several ways teachers and administrators, such as principals and coaches, can ensure that both the classroom environment and curriculum are responsive to the increasing cultural diversity of our society. These strategies will encourage all students' cultural awareness, enhancing each student's sense of identity, and foster inclusion in the classroom community.

1. Get to Know Your Students Ensuring that cultural awareness is promoted in the classroom starts with the teacher understanding each individual student. Take the time to learn about each student's cultural background, hobbies, learning styles, and what makes them unique. Demonstrating a genuine interest in learning about each student and their culture will help establish trust and allow you to form a bond with them so they feel valued. If students feel appreciated by and comfortable with the teacher, there's a better chance they'll feel comfortable talking with and respect their peers in the class - and communication is the core to a culturally aware and inclusive classroom.

2. Maintain Consistent Communication Aside from getting to know your students, teachers should also continue to maintain ongoing communication throughout the semester or school year. Scheduling 1-on-1 meetings with students to "check in" every so often will allow you to consistently improve how accessible the classroom is to everyone. Students can talk about whether they felt included in the classroom culture. This can help identify issues or ways to improve the overall experience. It's also an opportunity to discuss their progress in the class and offer guidance on how they can improve, based on their individual needs as a student.

3. Acknowledge and Respect Every Student It's also important for students to celebrate and respect their own diverse backgrounds, as well as each other's. When appropriate, teachers should encourage students to research and learn about their own ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This allows them to better understand their own culture as well as the differences and nuances with their peers. As a bonus, this can be a great ice breaker assignment, allowing students to give presentations about their family traditions and culture to help expose the class to concepts outside of their own familiar comfort zone. Acknowledging these differences and creating a safe space for discussion helps promote understanding in the classroom and beyond. Also, as you encourage students to learn about their diverse backgrounds, remember to take the time to highlight what's offensive and the distinction between cultural celebration and appropriation. Learning how to talk about other cultures in a respectful, mature way is essential for success in life outside the classroom.

4. Practice Cultural Sensitivity While it's important to keep an open dialogue amongst students, it's equally as important to make sure you're being sensitive to everyone's culture, beliefs, and language concerns. Take the time to understand each student's cultural nuances - from learning styles to the language they use - and use these insights to design your lesson plans. For example, provide English language learners with appropriate and relevant resources that help them improve their English comprehension skills. Rather than teach with a traditional lecture style, create learning experiences that are more interactive and require collaboration. These considerations will help ensure that every student feels included, is given the space to learn in their own way and is given a chance to succeed.

5. Incorporate Diversity in the Lesson Plan The classroom environment is important for fostering cultural awareness, but you also should ensure diversity is represented in your actual lesson plan. For example, broaden history lessons so that they encompass the world beyond United States history and culture. Or, use references and analogies to other cultures in your lessons and assignments to help students with diverse backgrounds personally connect. Another great strategy is bringing in diverse speakers to add varying points of view and real-life context to different subjects.There are several ways you can ingrain cultural awareness and diversity into your lesson plan, and it will vary depending on the cultures represented in your classroom and the course you're teaching. Regardless of the subject, always try to present and connect lessons to real-world issues. It's easier to promote cultural awareness within your lessons when there's a real example for students to relate to.

6. Give Students Freedom and Flexibility Teachers often feel like they need to take on a strict, authoritative approach when it comes to managing their classroom. The most valuable lessons are often learned through a student's own experiences, so giving them some freedom in the course encourages more connection to the curriculum. Allow students to read and present their own materials that relate to the fundamental lesson so they can approach the topic from their own perspective. As a teacher, you can act as a facilitator and encourage conversation and healthy debate between diverse opinions. Group assignments are also a great way to expose students to diverse perspectives, allowing them to work together to explore and solve a problem. This will also help prepare them for a diverse workforce where they'll have to partner with a range of people to accomplish their professional goals.

Why is it Important to Teach Culture in the Classroom?

It is important to remind ourselves why diversity and cultural awareness is so crucial in the classroom and the benefits it can have on students now and in the long-term. Teaching diversity exposes students to various cultural and social groups, preparing students to become better citizens in their communities. These culturally responsive teaching strategies will help you to promote diversity in the classroom.

With these culturally responsive teaching strategies in mind, it's important to remind ourselves why diversity and cultural awareness is so crucial in the classroom and the benefits it can have on students now and in the long-term.

Students Become More Empathetic

Promoting awareness and creating a personal connection with diverse cultures in the classroom can prevent students from developing prejudices later in life. It allows them to empathize with people different from themselves since they're more aware of the experiences someone of a different race or cultural group may face.

Students Gain a Better Understanding of Lessons and People

When working and learning with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures present in the classroom, students gain a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. It also teaches students how to use their own strengths and points of view to contribute in a diverse working environment.

Students Become More Open-Minded

Naturally, by exposing students to a diverse range of opinions, thoughts, and cultural backgrounds, you're encouraging them to be more open-minded later in life. This will make them open to new ideas and be able to attain a greater comprehension on a topic by taking in different points of view.

Students Feel More Confident and Safe

Students who learn about different cultures during their education feel more comfortable and safe with these differences later in life. This allows them to interact in a wider range of social groups and feel more confident in themselves as well as in their interactions with others.

Students Are Better Prepared for a Diverse Workplace

With the rise of globalization, it's more important to be able to work with people from different cultures and social groups. If students are exposed to diversity and learn cultural awareness in the classroom, it sets them up to flourish in the workforce.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Importance of Diversity in the Classroom - School of Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Drexel University School of Education Cultural diversity in the classroom is on the rise. In 2014, U.S. public schools hit a minority majority milestone with Latino, African-American, and Asian students having surpassed the number of white students. In 2044, the U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
This picture depicts two students explaining what the phrase "student voice" means to them and why it is important.

# data[].attributes.body
The Danger of A Single story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie does an excellent job of outlining the issues of not detailing the importance of perspectives of others in the classroom. If students never learn about other cultures and the experiences of others, they will continue to go off of their own personal knowledge of stereotypes and will never learn that minority cultures are different than they appear.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

# data[].attributes.body
These are all examples of different kind of literacies that can be used in different contexts in the classroom. It is important to use different literacies to keep students engaged and thinking critically about new material.

# data[].attributes.body
This website depicts different books to read to elementary-aged students to teach them about different cultures and diversity of race, gender, sexuality, etc.

# data[].attributes.body
This journal article depicts different stretgies to promote student engagement in the classroom. This article talks heavily about the importance of engagement to fuel students natural curiosity, making it very important to have them engaged to use critical thinking strategies in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Structure Matters: Twenty-One Teaching Strategies to Promote Student Engagement and Cultivate Classroom Equity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A host of simple teaching strategies—referred to as “equitable teaching strategies” and rooted in research on learning—can support biology instructors in striving for classroom equity and in teachi...

# data[].attributes.body
This is an article I found specifically about Black Literacy Societies. This article specifically talks about why they were invented, what they did, and why nobody knows about them. This discusses the importance of learning about other cultures, as well as educating others on different issues that are hurting people. These kinds of stories have been cherry-picked out of our history and deserve to be heard.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Dreaded eloquence'- The origins and rise of African American literary societies and libraries (1)