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 Proficient Teacher: Uses Diverse and Representative Materials 

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 Proficient Teacher: Uses Diverse and Representative Materials 

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A proficient teacher incorporates books, visuals, and activities that reflects the cultures, languages, and experiences of the students in the classroom. By doing this the teacher is ensuring all the students feel valued and welcomed into the classroom.

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Looking for Excellent “Diverse” Books for Children? Start Here!

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Recommended resources for finding excellent and “diverse” children’s books.

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Building Strong Relationships with Families

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Building Strong Relationships with Families

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Engaging with families and communities is essential. A proficient teacher builds trust and partnerships with parents to ensure students thrive both at school and home.

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Graduate Programs in Education and Psychology - Pepperdine University

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Many different factors contribute to building a strong classroom atmosphere, and creating strong partnerships between teachers and parents is a crucial part of student success. We'll explore practical tips for fostering these relationships, emphasizing the importance of parent communication in the educational journey.

8 Tips for Fostering Parent Relationships

1. Get to Know The Parents

To build strong relationships with parents, actively understanding their backgrounds and concerns is pivotal for effective communication with families. Developing tailored strategies that cater to the unique needs of each individual student is key to this approach.

Taking the time to learn and remember the names of parents or caregivers is a foundational step in establishing personal contact and trust. An introductory phone call at the start of the school year can significantly enhance this effort. This call isn't just about imparting information; it's an opportunity to listen, to understand parent/caregiver dynamics, and to acknowledge any special circumstances like custody arrangements that might affect the student. Such thoughtful communication lays the groundwork for ongoing, meaningful relationships with parents, ensuring a collaborative and supportive environment for each student's educational journey.

2. Create Clear Lines of Communication

Parents appreciate communication that is clear and consistent. The goal is to keep parents involved and informed about their child's progress and school activities without overwhelming them with too many sources of information.

Select a few effective communication tools that most parents will be able to easily access. Whether it's email, a dedicated app, or take-home folders, the chosen method of communication should cater to the preferences and accessibility of the parent community. By limiting the number of channels, parents know exactly where to look for information, reducing the likelihood of missed updates or confusion.

This approach also streamlines the process for teachers, allowing them to focus on creating quality content for these communications, whether it's a detailed email update, a concise message on an app, or important documents in a take-home folder. By keeping communication straightforward and centralized, both parents and teachers can engage more efficiently and effectively, fostering a stronger, more cohesive educational environment for the students.

3. Communicate Regularly

Regular communication plays a pivotal role in maintaining a smooth and transparent flow of information between teachers and parents. This consistent approach helps prevent surprises and miscommunications, ensuring that all parties are on the same page regarding a student's progress and school activities.

Incorporating a mix of updates about upcoming events, special events, and general progress can keep parents engaged and informed. For instance, a weekly update can be an effective way to summarize what you've covered in class, highlight any special achievements, and provide a heads-up about any upcoming events or important dates. This regular rhythm of communication builds a reliable and predictable structure, which parents can depend on for staying connected with their child's educational journey.

Positive messages are also a crucial part of regular communication. It's important to celebrate successes, no matter how small, as this can have a huge impact on a child's self-esteem and motivation. Sharing these positive messages with parents not only keeps them informed about their child's progress but also creates an atmosphere of positivity and encouragement. By maintaining this steady stream of communication, teachers can foster a strong, collaborative relationship with parents, which is essential for the holistic development of the student.

4. Start With Good News

Initiating parent-teacher communication with positive news sets the stage for open, constructive discussions and fosters positive relationships. This approach is especially beneficial when navigating conversations that might lead to a difficult situation. Start on a positive note in order to establish a foundation of trust and mutual respect. This will make it easier to address more challenging topics later on.

Emphasize the successes and achievements of the student, no matter how small. This helps to reinforce a positive attitude in both the parents and the student. This strategy of positive communication is not just about highlighting the good but also about framing challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement.

When dealing with difficult parents, this approach can be particularly effective. It can help in diffusing tension and redirecting the conversation towards a more productive and solution-focused dialogue. This doesn't mean avoiding the discussion of areas where the student might need improvement, but rather, it ensures that such discussions are embedded within a context that acknowledges and values the student's strengths and achievements.

This method of starting with good news is not just a communication tactic; it's a way to build and maintain a positive environment that supports student achievement. By consistently applying this approach, teachers can nurture an atmosphere of positivity and collaboration, vital for the overall development of their students.

5. Accommodate Language Barriers

In today's diverse educational environments, you must be able to accommodate language barriers in order to maintain effective communication with all parents. Recognizing and addressing these barriers is integral to ensuring that all parents have the opportunity to be engaged in their child's academic success.

Offering translation services or materials in multiple languages can significantly enhance parental engagement. When parents can easily understand and communicate with the school, they are more likely to participate actively in their child's education. This can be achieved through various communication methods, such as translated newsletters, multilingual websites, or interpreters at parent-teacher meetings.

Most schools or districts will help coordinate these services so you don't have to worry about finding a translator or translating paperwork on your own.

By acknowledging and addressing language barriers, schools demonstrate their commitment to the entire school community. This inclusive approach helps build a more cohesive and supportive environment,. When parents are able to communicate effectively with the school, regardless of their native language, it bridges gaps and fosters a stronger, more connected community.

6. Be Kind But Professional

Striking the right balance between kindness and professionalism in contact with parents is essential for creating a positive and effective school environment. This balance influences not only the nature of individual interactions but also shapes the overall communication style within the school community.

When teachers approach conversations with kindness, it demonstrates empathy and understanding of the parents' perspectives and concerns. This empathetic approach is crucial, as it helps in building trust and rapport. However, it is equally important to maintain a professional boundary. This means being clear, respectful, and consistent in communication, and ensuring that discussions remain focused on the student's welfare and educational progress.

A professional communication style also involves being well-prepared for meetings, providing factual and relevant information, and following up on any agreed actions or commitments. This reassures parents that their child's education and well-being are being handled with care and competence.

7. Involve Parents In The Classroom

Encouraging parents to get involved in the classroom has been shown to enhance students' educational experiences. Inviting parents to join classroom activities or school events deepens their understanding of the learning environment and builds a strong community sense.

Parental involvement can include everything from helping in classroom activities to attending school events. As parents engage in the school day, they gain firsthand insights into their child's educational setting. They observe classroom dynamics and teaching methods, connecting more with their child's learning journey. This engagement enables them to support their child's education at home more effectively.

Active parental engagement in school activities also sends a positive message to students. It demonstrates that their education is a collaborative effort and a priority. This involvement boosts student morale and motivation, leading to improved academic performance.

Parental engagement also benefits and supports teachers. Involved parents bring new perspectives, offer volunteer assistance, and enrich the educational environment. Creating accessible and appealing opportunities for parents is crucial. It fosters an inclusive atmosphere that values and welcomes their participation.

8. Share Student Successes

Regularly sharing students' successes and achievements with their parents strengthens the bond between home and school. This practice keeps parents informed about their child's progress and fosters a sense of pride and joint accomplishment.

Celebrating student successes goes beyond academic achievements. It encompasses all areas of development, including improvements in social skills, participation in extracurricular activities, and personal milestones. By recognizing these varied aspects of student growth, teachers can provide a more holistic view of a child's progress.

Communicating these successes can be done through various means, such as newsletters, emails, or even a note in the student's take-home folder. The key is to ensure that this communication is consistent and reflects the individual achievements of each student. Personalizing these updates makes them more meaningful to parents and reinforces the notion that the school values and understands their child.

This regular sharing of positive news also creates a more collaborative and trusting relationship between teachers and parents. It helps in building a supportive community around the student, where both home and school work together to nurture and celebrate their growth. Ultimately, highlighting student successes contributes to a positive school culture, encouraging students to strive for continuous improvement and success.

Best Ways to Utilize Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity to increase communication with parents, especially those you don't get to see often throughout the school year.

Conferences offer a dedicated time for parents and teachers to discuss a child's progress, address concerns, and plan for future success. To make the most of these meetings, here are some tips:

Why Parent/Teacher Relationships Are Important

The partnership between parents and teachers impacts a child's academic and personal development in many ways:

How a Master's in Teaching Can Help Improve Your Parent Relationship Skills

Whether you're a current teacher looking to improve your skills or an aspiring teacher pursuing your initial teaching certification, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program can help you develop holistic teaching skills, including effective parent communication. The esteemed 11-month program at Pepperdine University has a 100% graduate employment rate and offers practical experience with over 200 teaching sites. The hybrid format, available on the West LA, Calabasas, or Irvine Campuses, provides flexibility and real-world experience. Graduates not only earn their degree but also a multiple or single-subject preliminary teaching credential.

Join us at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology to enhance your teaching and parent communication skills, setting the stage for a successful and fulfilling career in education.

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Learn how to foster strong partnerships with parents. Discover effective communication strategies, parent involvement ideas, and techniques for addressing concerns and building positive relationships.

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By creating a welcoming and supportive classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and valued, is a great way to be a culturally responsive and proficient teacher. Also establishing routine and norms that celebrate diversity and encourage collaboration among students from different background, is a great way to create an inclusive classroom.

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When inclusion is done well, everyone in the class benefits. It strengthens the ability of all kids to work together, understand and value different points of view, think critically, and be successful learners.

Inclusive classrooms also reduce stigma. Imagine this kind of learning community (quote from Understood ):

"Inclusive classrooms are filled with diverse learners. That lets kids talk about how everyone learns in their own way. They may find that they have more in common with other kids than they thought. This can go a long way in reducing stigma for kids with learning and attention issues. It can also help kids build and maintain friendships. "

Understanding inclusion

Inclusion is a belief that ALL students, regardless of labels, should be members of the general education community. The philosophy of inclusion encourages the elimination of the dual special and general education systems, and the creation of a merged system that is responsive to the needs of all students.

Is it inclusion?

This chart, developed by inclusion expert Nicole Eredics, can help you understand what inclusion is and isn't.

Child spends the majority of the day in the general education classroom.

Child spends the majority of the day in a special education classroom and goes to a general education classroom for one or two periods.

Child's desk is included with the other groups of desks in the classroom.

Child's desk is away from the other desks in the classroom.

Child has access to and is included in classroom lessons and activities that are adapted or modified to meet his/her special needs.

Child works on his/her own curriculum.

Child attends outside activities with the class including assemblies, field trips, enrichment classes, and recess.

Child is given alternate activities and options with other special education students.

Child is an independent, valued, and respected classroom member.

Child is looked upon as helpless, needy, and dependent.

The child's paraprofessional facilitates access to the curriculum and classroom activities.

The child's paraprofessional determines access to the curriculum and classroom activities.

The paraprofessional encourages child to complete work as independently as possible, while providing support when needed.

The paraprofessional does not provide many opportunities for the child to complete work independently and "hovers."

Child receives specialist support (therapy, speech, and language) with minimal disruption to the class routine and program.

Child is pulled from the classroom lessons and activities for specialist suport without consideration for what the child will miss.

The teacher can identify your child's strengths and areas for improvement.

The teacher refers to the specialists and paraprofessionals to identify child's development.

Child can name classmates and has many common classroom experiences.

Child does not know classmates and does not have many common classroom experiences.

The trend toward inclusive general education classrooms

Can special education students thrive in general education classrooms? Watch Carl Cohn, a former superintendent, talk about the trend toward inclusive classrooms (also called inclusion classrooms). Hear his tips on what to ask if a school suggests your child should be in a separate, self-contained classroom. Learn more at Understood, 4 Benefits of Inclusion Classrooms .

Read about a New York City public school program called ASD Nest in this article from The Atlantic: What School Could Be If It Were Designed for Kids With Autism .

Inclusive learning: everyone's in

This video, "Meeting the Needs of the Whole Child," overview is part of the Edmonton Public Schools' Inclusive Learning: Everyone's In initiative. The District was selected as a change agent for Alberta's Action on Inclusion initiative - to share information about best practices to welcome, include and support students' needs in the classroom and community. (Edmonton Public Schools, Alberta, CA) View all of the "Inclusive Learning: Everyone's In" video ›

Books about inclusive classrooms

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An inclusive classroom is a general education classroom where students with and without learning differences learn together. Inclusive classrooms are welcoming and support the diverse academic, social, emotional, and communication needs of all students. Learn more about what inclusion is, how it can benefit all learners, and how to implement an inclusion program in your classroom and school-wide.

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Incorporate music, art, and movement from diverse cultures 

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Incorporate music, art, and movement from diverse cultures 

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Use song, dance, and other art project from various cultures to engage students. For example, during a music lesson, students can learn a simple song in Spanish, or another language represented in the classroom, and can also explore instrument tied to the songs.

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Spanish Song For Children - "Hola Hola" (Song Only)

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Organize events where students and families can share aspects of their culture, such as food, clothing, or stories. For example, you might host a Cultural Show and tell where students bring items or photo from home to explain their significance.

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It doesn't take an expert to tell you that your students are each different and unique. They come to the classroom with diverse backgrounds, including their cultures, ethnicities, religions, languages, and economic statuses. They have different opinions about politics and pop culture as well as different learning styles and levels of motivation.

As their teacher, you have the opportunity to create a special place where each student feels like he or she belongs. One of the ways you can foster that sense of belonging is by celebrating cultural diversity in the classroom. Whether your students are new to this country or their families have been here for generations, they will enjoy the opportunity to dig into their backgrounds and share information about their cultures.

That said, some students may not recognize their unique cultures. Be sure to point out that every family has things that make it special: traditions, family size or composition, or even activities they enjoy together.

The Benefits of Celebrating Diversity in the Classroom

Implementing diversity activities in the classroom does much more than provide entertainment! The more your students know about other cultures, the better their understanding of the world around them. Let's take a deeper look at the many benefits of celebrating diversity in the classroom.

Academic

A culturally diverse classroom helps students develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Encountering new and different ideas and perspectives makes students evaluate their viewpoints. Through group and partner work, students learn to respect their classmates' differences. Plus, they will likely find things they have in common with each other.

Furthermore, students from diverse classrooms and schools tend to do better academically. Studies show that these students tend to score higher on achievement tests, drop out of school less often, and enroll in college more often.

Social

Students become more empathetic when they encounter other cultures regularly. They're less likely to develop biases and prejudices and more likely to be open to new thoughts, ideas, and opinions as they continue their education.

Planning activities to promote diversity in the classroom helps all students develop their leadership skills and become more self-confident. In addition, your students will have opportunities to develop relationships with people who look, think, act, and speak differently from them.

Future Benefits

All teachers, even in elementary classrooms, are preparing their students to head out into the world. When you prioritize exploring cultural diversity in the classroom, you open them up to a world that's far bigger than their hometown.

Many companies want employees who are comfortable interacting with diverse individuals. When students have the opportunity to encounter other cultures from a young age, they're better prepared to enter the global community as an adult.

Top 11 Ways to Celebrate Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

By celebrating the diversity within your classroom, you can enrich your students' learning experiences and help them expand their social circles. You will probably even benefit yourself in the process! There are many ways to incorporate diversity activities in the classroom. Here are some activities to promote diversity in your classroom.

1. Holiday Celebrations

Create a calendar that highlights celebrations around the world. Choose ones that represent the cultures of the students in your class. When a holiday comes up, take some time to discuss what it's about and find simple ways to celebrate, such as:

Making a relevant craft

Serving a treat from that culture

Reading a book associated with the holiday

Similarly, you can explore how different cultures celebrate the same holiday. For example, Christmas is celebrated in many cultures, but those celebrations can look very different. As major holidays in the U.S. approach, have your students share their favorite family traditions for those holidays.

Thanksgiving is a quintessentially American holiday. Each family represented in your classroom probably celebrates this holiday with its own flair. Invite your students to each share about a Thanksgiving tradition in their family. It may be a special food they eat, a game they play, or a movie they watch. Ask them if they know how this tradition started and what it means to them.

If possible, you could also consider hosting a classroom Thanksgiving meal. Ask students to bring a special dish that their family always eats on Thanksgiving. Have students provide the recipe for their dish, and turn the recipes into a classroom multicultural Thanksgiving cookbook.

2. Music and Art

Another way to promote diversity in the classroom is to partner with the music and art teachers in your school to dive into the music and art of the cultures represented by your students.

Talk about composers, musicians, and singers from each culture. Listen to samples of music, and talk about the similarities and differences your students hear. If there are instruments that are unique to a culture, show pictures of them to your students. Better yet, find the actual instruments for students to see firsthand.

You can also teach students simple folk songs from different cultures. Young students will especially enjoy learning fun songs. Find videos online of other people singing them, but be sure to check that the lyrics are age-appropriate for your students.

Talk about artists and art styles from your students' cultures. Have students make a piece of art in the style of each culture, then display them in your classroom as part of a multicultural bulletin board.

3. Multicultural Library

Another way to promote cultural diversity in the classroom is to build a library that includes books with characters who live in or come from other countries. Include books written by a diverse array of authors as well. Be sure to include age-appropriate biographies of people from a wide variety of cultures.

4. Guest Speakers and Interviews

You can read extensively about another culture, but nothing tops getting information directly from the source. Invite people from different cultures to speak to your class either in person or virtually. By using video conferencing technology, your class can connect with people around your town, state, country, and even across the world!

Have your students prepare questions ahead of time to ask the speaker. Look for people who represent a wide array of life experiences, such as first-generation immigrants, multilingual people, and refugees. An easy place to start is with your students' parents, grandparents, or older siblings.

You can also have your students conduct interviews with someone from a different culture than their own. This could include other students in your class, school staff, neighbors, or friends. Then, allow students to share something they learned from this person with the class.

5. Show and Tell

Ask students to bring in something from home that represents their culture. Then, have them present the item to the class and explain why it's important to them. Have two or three students present each week throughout the school year. Be sure to remind students to ask permission from a parent or guardian before bringing an item to school!

6. Role-Playing

Have students choose an important person from their culture to research. The person can be a current or historical figure. Then, set aside a day for the students to dress like their person and present the information that they found. You could even modify this activity to have students choose a person from outside of their culture.

7. Games From Around the World

Another fun way to celebrate diversity in the classroom is to bring in international games for indoor recess and celebrations. Some easy-to-play games include Mancala, tangrams, and Ludo. Be sure to ask your students what their favorites are and invite them to bring a game from home to play when appropriate.

You can also talk about the sports and games that are popular in the countries your students' families come from. If possible, find opportunities to go outside and play some of the sports and games that are shared.

8. Global Pen Pals

Encourage your students to write to pen pals. If you have students from a wide range of cultures in your class, you can pair students with friends or relatives of other students who live outside of the U.S. If you need ideas to get started, check out this program. It offers project-based opportunities for getting to know other students, schools, countries, and cultures.

9. Cultural Bulletin Board

Dedicate one bulletin board in your classroom to highlighting a different country or region of the world each month. Be sure to include pictures of the country and its location on a map as well as some simple words in the native language. You can even display information about famous people or events related to that country. Get creative!

10. Learn a New Language

Teaching about other languages is a great way to celebrate cultural diversity in the classroom. If you have students who speak languages other than English, allow them to share their languages with the other students. Ask each multilingual student to teach the class a few words in his or her native language. Here are a few simple ideas for words to share:

Greetings and introductions

Numbers from 1 to 20

Months or seasons

Family members

Colors

If a student isn't comfortable in the teacher role, ask him or her to teach you first. Then, you can present the information to the class. Depending on your grade level, you could even have students get into groups to create short skits using the new words they've learned.

11. Multicultural Fair

One of the most popular activities to promote diversity in the classroom is hosting a Multicultural Fair.

Invite students to bring in food, games, crafts, or other items that represent their culture. Extend invitations to family members as well, and invite other classes in your school to attend. You could also partner with other teachers to make a bigger celebration or turn it into a school-wide fair and incorporate the fair into your curriculum.

There are different types of diversity including language, race, ethnicity, religion, family background, and socioeconomic status. Each student in your class, whether they are new to the U.S. or not, has a unique family culture. When you celebrate cultural diversity in your classroom and around the world, your students will become more aware and appreciative of the global community that they're a part of.

Are you looking for expert tips and resources for teaching English Language Learners? Check out our ESL Resource Center.

This blog was originally published on February 9, 2022. It was updated on May 23, 2023.

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11 Ways to Celebrate Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

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Celebrating cultural diversity in the classroom helps students feel confident, accepted, and understanding of the world around them.