# data[].attributes.body
Children's books exploring diversity in the classroom and environment.
More Books:
https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/oct/13/50-best-culturally-diverse-childrens-books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Teaching kids to appreciate and celebrate diversity is a top priority in today's global landscape-but how do you impart valuable lessons in an age-appropriate way? Books, of course! They're a fun way to introduce little ones to important concepts early on and a great conversation-starter for parents as you talk to your kids about difference, privilege, respect, empathy and inclusivity. And there are boatloads of beautiful children's books about diversity to choose from.

Whether you're looking for stories with characters your child can easily relate to or ones that encourage your kids to empathize with those who are different, we've put together a list of some of the top children's books that feature characters of all different ethnicities, races, religions and gender identities.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances. Plus, more from The Bump:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Best Children's Books About Diversity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teaching kids to appreciate and celebrate diversity is a top priority in today's global landscape-but how do you impart valuable lessons in an age-appropriate way? Books, of course! They're a fun way to introduce little ones to important concepts early on and a great conversation-starter for parents as you talk to your kids about difference, privilege, respect, empathy and inclusivity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As educators, it's our duty to explain to our students that everyone has roots in other countries. But trying to explain the melting-pot concept to elementary-age children can be tough! My colleagues and I decided to add an entire multicultural theme to our curriculum in order to embrace diversity. Here are a few of my favorite activities for studying cultures in your classroom in a way that's educational and fun.
Further Reading: How Pen Pals Expanded the World for My Students
Say Hello

I like to begin every morning with a multicultural greeting to my students. Every month, I choose a simple phrase from a new language and greet my class with it. Repeating these phrases for the month is a fun way for students to learn a bit of a foreign language.

September: "Hello" (English)

October: "Buenos dias" (Spanish)

November: "Bonjour" (French)

December: "Shalom" (Hebrew)

January: "Jambo" (Swahili)

February: "Huanying" (Chinese)

March: "Guten tag" (German)

April: "Konnichiwa" (Japanese)

May: "G'Day mate" (Australian English)

June: "Goed dag" (Dutch)

Travel around the World

Make daily use of a globe or flat map to help your class realize how big the world is. Take inspiration from Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days and invite your class on a pretend trip to several places on the planet. Discuss the various landforms you'd have to travel across in order to reach each destination, and build a thematic unit around every country "visited." Because Around the World in Eighty Days is a long, advanced book, it may not be the most appropriate story for younger children, but your school's librarian can suggest a variety of age-appropriate travel books for your class. The important part is to get your students curious about exploring the world and its many cultures.

Indulge in Different Cuisines

To encourage cultural awareness and experimentation with food, consider serving different kinds of breads as a snack in your classroom. This is an easy beginning to global food study. As you munch on croissants, pitas, tortillas, matzo, and dark breads, have a class discussion about who eats these breads and the countries where they're most popular. Next, have parents assist you in putting together a globally influenced potluck lunch. Have students bring a food or dessert that represents their heritage. As you engage in this feast, discuss where each dish originated. After the potluck, collect the recipes from each family, compile them, and send a multicultural cookbook home with each child.

Make Diverse Art

Introduce your students to other cultures through hands-on, creative activities. Using my own Greek heritage for inspiration, I taught my class how to make worry beads. The Greek people traditionally used worry beads as a relaxation technique to diffuse their concerns; when they had a problem, they reached for their string of beads, placed it behind their back, and counted the beads two by two. To make our own worry beads, we took about 24 inches of yarn and folded it in half. Then we tied up five pieces of yarn (about four inches long) to make a fringe at the halfway mark on the long strand. Beginning at one end, students strung different colored plastic beads for about five inches, then tied the beads off with a knot. This process was repeated on the other side, and we finished by tying together the long strand to make a continuous loop.

My class also made tissue-paper flowers to honor Mexican culture. These flowers are traditionally used to decorate streets, houses, and churches during festivals and holidays. For this craft, each student needs tissue paper in a variety of colors and a green pipe cleaner. Have your class draw round scalloped flower shapes in different sizes on the paper. After cutting them out, have them stack the flowers from largest to smallest and help them punch a hole in the center. Then thread the pipe cleaner through the holes and twist it to form a stem. To give the flowers a natural look, fluff all the layers.
Further Reading: The 3 Cs for Creating an Engaged and Positive Classroom Culture
These are just a few ways to learn about cultures in your classroom. You can use specific holidays, music, games, and dances as inspiration for your lessons. Leverage your experience, research, and imagination to think of other authentic ways to introduce children to the magical diversity of our world's population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Exploring Cultures in Your Classroom: Fun Activities to Try

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You can celebrate diversity, and engage students in the study of different cultures, with these interactive activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ability

Remembering the contributions of Louis Braille. One teacher combined children's literature, class discussions and a visit from a blind educator to break down stereotypes and fears about people with sensory disabilities. (from Teaching Tolerance)

In these lessons, students will work toward understanding what it means to have a learning disability. The goal is make them aware of prejudice and discrimination aimed at those with learning disabilities. (from Teaching Tolerance)

Cultural Diversity

In this art lesson, students create a collage that represents the different types of people found in North America. (from Alfy)

This lesson discusses the differences between common representations of Native Americans within the U.S. and a more differentiated view of historical and contemporary cultures of five American Indian tribes living in different geographical areas. Students will learn about customs and traditions such as housing, agriculture, and ceremonial dress for the Tlingit, Dinè, Lakota, Muscogee, and Iroquois peoples. (from EDSITEment)

Students study the interaction between environment and culture as they learn about three vastly different Native groups in a game-like activity that uses vintage photographs, traditional stories, photos of artifacts, and recipes. (from EDSITEment)

Website with 20 different multicultural activities for preschoolers and early elementary. Projects include passports, singing, fingerplays, making musical instruments, games etc. (from Gayle's Preschool Rainbow)

Human Rights and Social Justice

Designing a Social Action Project

Guidelines for getting young students involved in making change in their world. (from TeachPeaceNow.org)

Overcoming Discrimination/ Prejudice/Stereotypes

Students create calendars marking special days that celebrate peace and illustrate them with ways to apply peace in their own lives. (from TeachPeaceNow.org)

Students brainstorm ways to bring about peace and create peace doves to remind them of their ideas. (from TeachPeaceNow.org)

Discussion questions, writing assignments, and student activities for character education and life skills pertaining to prejudice. (from Good Character)

Race & Ethnicity

Activities and lesson plans for celebrating Black History Month. (collected by TeachPeaceNow.org)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ability Remembering the contributions of Louis Braille. One teacher combined children's literature, class discussions and a visit from a blind educator to break down stereotypes and fears about people with sensory disabilities. (from Teaching Tolerance) In these lessons, students will work toward understanding what it means to have a learning disability.

# data[].attributes.body
Have children work together to create graphs and such to display similarities and differences among the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As young children enter their first years of school, they'll get to know peers with a wide variety of abilities, cultures, languages, and backgrounds. It's totally natural for them to notice similarities and differences and express curiosity, and it's up to the grownups in their lives to not only model acceptance of diversity, but to frame it as a strength.

Use the tips in today's blog post to help children appreciate the similarities and differences between themselves and others-and reassure them that talking about differences is okay and encouraged. Excerpted and adapted from the book 45 Strategies That Support Young Dual Language Learners by Shauna L. Tominey & Elisabeth C. O'Bryon, these practical strategies are a great starting point for helping all young learners appreciate other cultures, values, and beliefs.

Here are 8 things you can do to show children that diversity is a strength:

Choose classroom themes that celebrate diversity

Make multicultural messages a part of your regular themes and classroom practices all year long. For example, instead of inviting diverse families to share favorite traditions with the class once a year in the winter, embed these cultural experiences and conversations regularly throughout the school year. Have conversations with your students that help them view these multicultural lessons with an open mind-you might say, "This is a holiday my family doesn't celebrate. I think it's really fun to learn about other traditions!" Amplifying the perspectives of diverse children and families all year round will help children see that culture is all around them, not just something they learn about during holidays.

Celebrate similarities and differences with charts and artwork

During class discussions, point out how wonderful it is to have so many children in the class with similarities and differences, and how differences make each of us unique and special. Then, with your students' help, create a chart with all the children's different eye colors, hair colors/lengths, favorite foods, likes and dislikes, favorite stories, and/or family traditions. Reserve a bulletin board or shelf for displaying artwork or classroom charts that celebrate the many ways children are alike and different. Proudly displaying similarities and differences is an excellent way to teach students to value diversity.

Help children verbally share the things that make them special

Build children's cultural identity and boost self-esteem by giving them chances to share their strengths with the class. Begin by talking with your class about how important it is to help other people feel good about themselves. Emphasize how scary it can be to feel like you are different from other people, and how brave it is to share things that are unique about yourself or your family. Then provide your students with an opportunity to share interesting facts about themselves, their families, and their passions and talents. Teach kids words they can say to support one another and make each other feel valued during the share sessions: "That's cool! I never knew that before!" "I like the way you do that." "Can you tell me more about that?"

Teach children it's okay to ask questions

Sometimes, children are taught that asking questions is rude and intrusive-when it's actually a great way to learn about differences. Rather than stigmatizing questions, show children how to ask them sensitively and appropriately. For example, if you overhear a student pointing out something she notices about another classmate-"Why does he wear glasses?-guide the two children in having a conversation about the difference. "Emma was wondering why you wear glasses, Julio. Can you tell us about your glasses?"

Have open conversations about stereotypes and biases

The roots of biased viewpoints take hold when children are young. To reduce bias and support children's development of compassion and understanding, explicitly tackle stereotypes and biases in your early childhood classroom. For example, as you paint class portraits, talk about how great it is to see so many similarities and differences-but also point out that sometimes people treat other people badly or differently because of their looks, the color of their skin, their cultural beliefs, or their gender. Share with children that this is unfair and is not how people should treat one another. In an increasingly diverse global society, it's important to have conversations like these to reduce the likelihood that children will adopt biased, stereotypical viewpoints.

Express positive interest in diverse cultures

Show genuine interest and enthusiasm whenever young children share something about themselves, their values, or their culture. You might say things like, "Wow, that is so interesting!," "I am really glad to learn about that," "I really like that tradition," or "My family does things differently from yours, but isn't it great that there are so many different ways families can show that they love each other?"

Respect and empathize with all children

Regardless of their background or abilities, be sure to treat all children in your classroom as competent, capable learners. When children experience challenges such as communication difficulties or demonstrate behaviors such as temper tantrums, use empathy to show the child you understand where he's coming from. Use words that respect the child's perspective: "I know you wanted a turn. It's disappointing that we ran out of time." This will reassure your student-and make his experience more understandable to the other children in the class.

Throughout the school day, children will often wonder how to respond to their classmates' differences and challenges. Stay mindful that they're looking to you as a model, and resolve to set a good example they can follow. Seeing you respond to diversity in a consistently supportive, empathetic way will teach children positive attitudes and effective strategies, and will assure them that they can look to you for support in the classroom.

***

Each year, you'll encounter diversity of many different types in your classroom; your students will differ in their language, culture, abilities, socioeconomic status, and developmental levels. Start young children early on the path to respect and acceptance by modeling empathy and displaying enthusiasm for diversity every day. With support from you and the other adults in their lives, all young learners can help each other feel proud, accepted, and valued.

Want more strategies for modeling acceptance of diversity and supporting young dual language learners? Check out 45 Strategies That Support Young Dual Language Learners , a toolbox of strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and promoting children's academic and social success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Ways to Show Young Children that Diversity is a Strength - Brookes Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As young children enter their first years of school, they'll get to know peers with a wide variety of abilities, cultures, languages, and backgrounds. It's totally natural for them to notice similarities and differences and express curiosity, and it's up to the grownups in their lives to not only model acceptance of diversity, but to [...]

# data[].attributes.body
At an early age children can start to develop stereotypes and see differences in themselves among others'. It is important to start talking with children, letting them explore one another' culture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cultural Diversity | Early Childhood Development

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Early Childhood Team of Nebraska Extension is committed to providing research-based and culturally responsive information that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We believe in the importance of promoting quality early learning environments for children that are culturally and developmentally appropriate. Research suggests adults who engage children

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Talk to Kids About Race and Cultural Diversity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teaching kids about race and cultural diversity is important. Learn how to teach your kids to appreciate differences among people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ERIC - Human Diversity in Education: An Integrative Approach., 1992

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This book addresses the issue of the underrepresentation of minority teachers and the lack of knowledge in schooling and teacher education concerning cultural differences and their affect on human interaction.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Narrator: Start by understanding how students learn or construct knowledge. Get to know your students as individuals. Make a deliberate effort to grow in cultural awareness. Be positive about diversity in your classroom. And use appropriate instructional tools and strategies.

Understanding how students learn or construct knowledge is fundamental for capitalizing on cultural differences to enhance academic achievement.

Jenese Thornton, 6th grade teacher [to student]: What did you decide to write about yesterday?

Narrator: Effective teachers build on prior experiences of their students. In a culturally diverse classroom, a teacher can enable students to share experiences that bridge what they already know with what they are studying...

Thornton: So, she wrote about her brother, she wrote about her family...

Thornton: Where are you from?

Student: From El Salvador.

Thornton: And if I were to get on the bus, what types of things could I see happening on the bus?

Narrator: ...and broaden the horizons of fellow students at the same time.

Thornton: I want them to make a connection. We have reading strategies where we ask them to make a prediction or visualize or make a connection. They get very excited when they can talk about their homeland.

Thornton: Now, what colors are in your flag?

Student 1: Green, white, and red?

Thornton: All right. Now, what colors are in your flag?

Student 2: Blue, white, and blue.

Thornton: They share their flags or the colors of their flags; [they like] drawing their flags, for example...talking about the food, talking about the music. You can see their internal feeling. They just get very excited.

Stevie Prather, 6th grade teacher [to class]: What did we say culture is? What is culture? Who would like to tell us that? Kelvin?

Narrator: Learning also thrives on analysis, reflection, and interpretation of issues that are meaningful to the students.

Kelvin: The way people live.

Prather: The way people live. Who can give me an example of an element of culture. Let's hear from a girl. Let's hear from Kendia. Kendia, give us an example of an element of culture.

Kendia: Food.

Prather: Food. Who can give us another example?

Student 2: Sports.

Prather: Who can give another example?

Student 3: Language.

Prather: Language.

Narrator: Getting to know your students as individuals is also important. Teachers need to know the interests, strengths, and weaknesses of their students. Taking time for informal conversation is important.

Prather: I think you told me a little bit about it yesterday.

Prather: The better you know your students, the better able you are to reach them academically and emotionally, so it's very important to know your students, what your students' preferences are, what their personal likes are, what their academic needs are, what their emotional needs are...that is vitally important.

I do a number of things to try to get to know my students. One of the things you'll notice at the front of the room is that they did posters titled "My Personal Culture." So that was one way recently we've been able to celebrate each other's differences and personal cultures.

One of the things that I do fairly regularly is have them write about their weekend. Just about every Monday, they have to write about their weekend; I mainly do that, of course, to have them work on their writing skills, but I also do that to get a glimpse of what is going on in their personal lives. Sometimes they will write about something personal. Maybe there was a disagreement in the family or maybe there was a tragedy, and I'm able to home in on what's going on in their lives.

Source: From How To Use Students' Diverse Cultural Backgrounds to Enhance Academic Achievement (DVD), 2008. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Use Students' Diverse Cultural Backgrounds to Enhance Academic Achievement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Narrator: Start by understanding how students learn or construct knowledge. Get to know your students as individuals. Make a deliberate effort to grow in cultural awareness. Be positive about diversity in your classroom. And use appropriate instructional tools and strategies. Understanding how students learn or construct knowledge is fundamental for capitalizing on cultural differences to enhance academic achievement.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Strategies for Teaching Culturally Diverse Students

# data[].attributes.body
This article helps you see why diversity in the classroom is important, more so why embracing it and using it to help the children learn is beneficial.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
1. Online Bachelor's Programs

2. Online Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education

3. Why Cultural Diversity and Awareness in the Classroom Is Important

Resource Articles //

Embracing cultural diversity can help you succeed as an educator.

American classrooms are becoming more diverse every year,* which means cultural diversity in the classroom is becoming an increasingly important issue for educators throughout the education system. Ignoring the increase in diversity is not a helpful response. Instead, educators are embracing diversity and fostering culturally inclusive classrooms designed to help every student succeed. You can do the same with your classroom.

What is culture?

Culture is a lot more than a list of holidays or food preferences or the language someone speaks. Culture is the framework around which we build our identity. It influences how we engage with the world, the perspectives we take, and the expectations we have. Every one of us has a culture, and most of us have identities built from multiple cultures. For example, we may consider ourselves part of the American culture, the culture of South Texas, the culture of children born to Mexican immigrants, the culture of people who enjoy comic books, etc.

When discussing cultural diversity in the classroom, we tend to look at cultural differences that have been historically ignored or marginalized. Your goal as an educator is to ensure you don't neglect a major aspect of a student's identity, and that you foster an environment where differences are accepted and understood, particularly if those differences have historically been ignored or disparaged.

What kinds of cultural diversity are common in classrooms?

No two students are the same, even if they share a lot in common. To foster cultural awareness, you need to consider all the different aspects of culture that can influence your students' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. Common cultural differences include:

Race
It's important to recognize the impact skin color has had on the broader American culture and how it can affect students' perceptions of each other and themselves.

Ethnicity
While ethnicity is sometimes used as a synonym for race, it is more accurately defined as the culture we derive from our nationality. Ethnic differences appear in all immigrant groups and can persist for generations. Understanding these differences can help you be attuned to your students' interests and outlooks.

Religion
While you know that not everyone worships in the same way-and that some don't worship at all-it's good to familiarize yourself with the ways religious traditions and requirements can impact your students' behaviors and free time.

Language
Language barriers should not be educational barriers. While you can't be expected to speak every language, you can be expected to make accommodations for those who speak English as a second language.

Economic
The economic situation of a student's family can greatly impact his or her learning. You should be aware of how economic pressures can lead to classroom stress as well as to issues with finding time and a place to study.

LGBTQ
A student's sexual orientation and/or gender identity can become a point of conflict in their lives. It shouldn't also be a point of conflict in the classroom.

How do you foster cultural awareness and sensitivity?

Express interest in diversity.
You can go a long way toward fostering a culturally inclusive classroom by demonstrating your own desire to be culturally aware. Ask students to share their stories and relate their cultural experiences to the lessons you're teaching.

Remain sensitive to differences.
Some students will be more forthcoming about their cultural differences than others. Before assuming a student is lazy or lacking ability, consider what cultural differences might be influencing a student's study habits and learning-and how you can adjust your methods and/or provide accommodations.

Maintain high expectations for all students.
Cultural diversity does not require you to have diverse expectations. You should maintain the same high expectations for all students. Yes, you may choose to make special accommodations for those students who need them, but you want all students to excel. Maintaining different expectations for different students can wrongly teach students that cultural differences determine educational abilities.

Teach a culturally inclusive curriculum.
In the past, American education has tended to focus heavily on Western European history and culture and on the stories of white Americans, particularly men. You should make a concerted effort to teach a broad curriculum that more accurately captures the world in its whole. By doing so, you can help ensure students don't feel as if their culture is unimportant or that their own contributions aren't wanted.

Where can you learn more about cultural diversity in the classroom?

If you're interested in studying how cultural frameworks affect classrooms, you may want to earn a bachelor's in elementary education. An elementary education degree can provide you with advanced knowledge of the ways cultural influences impact learning, and how teachers can better address cultural diversity in the classroom.

While earning a degree may seem daunting, you can make it easier by enrolling in an online university. An online education degree program in child development can provide you with the convenience and flexibility you need to earn your degree while continuing to work and take care of your other responsibilities. To create truly culturally aware classrooms, we need educators committed to embracing cultural diversity. You can put yourself on the path to becoming one of those educators by earning an online education degree in child development.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online BS in Elementary Education program. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

*R. Klein, In 10 Years, America's Classrooms Are Going to Be Much More Diverse Than They Are Now, The Huffington Post, on the Internet at www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/07/classroom-demographics-2025_n_7175760.html.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.

Walden offers both state-approved educator licensure programs as well as programs and courses that do not lead to licensure or endorsements. Prospective students must review their state licensure requirements prior to enrolling. For more information, please refer to WaldenU.edu/educlicensure.

Prospective Alabama students: Contact the Teacher Education and Certification Division of the Alabama State Department of Education at 1-334-242-9935 or www.alsde.edu to verify that these programs qualify for teacher certification, endorsement, and/or salary benefits.

Prospective Washington state students are advised to contact the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at 1-360-725-6275 or [email protected] to determine whether Walden's programs in the field of education are approved for teacher certification or endorsements in Washington state. Additionally, teachers are advised to contact their individual school district as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Online Bachelor's Programs Online Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education Why Cultural Diversity and Awareness in the Classroom Is Important Resource Articles // American classrooms are becoming more diverse every year,* which means cultural diversity in the classroom is becoming an increasingly important issue for educators throughout the education system.

# data[].attributes.body
Incorporating children's family life into your classroom can help the children find similarities among one another that they might not realize they have. It can help connect children with one another and create great learning topics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A primary goal of culturally responsive education is to help all students become respectful of the multitudes of cultures and people that they'll interact with once they exit the educational setting. This can be a daunting task for the educator, given that the world at large is infinitely more complex and diverse than the microcosmic environment that the student inhabits. In typical educational and social settings there is a marked tendency for students to exhibit classic in-group/out-group behaviors.

In general, most students are comfortable interacting with people, behaviors, and ideas that they are familiar with but react with fear and apprehension when faced with the unfamiliar. Among its other goals, culturally responsive instruction aims to teach students that differences in viewpoint and culture are to be cherished and appreciated rather than judged and feared.

How might a culturally responsive educator push against human nature's natural aversion to the unknown and help students become more respectful of cultures with different ideas? The best way to combat this tendency is to provide students with ample evidence that people that don't look like them are, at the core, people just like them. Such a viewpoint can be taught by promoting a culture of learning from one another rather than a culture of passing judgment on differences in values and beliefs.

There are a wide range of classroom activities that can help students recognize the essential humanity and value of different types of people. For instance, providing students with an opportunity to share stories of their home life, such as family holiday practices, provides fellow students with a window into their peer's cultural traditions.

Showing students everyday photographs of people of different ethnicities, shapes, sizes, and garb gives students the opportunity to see people that look very different from themselves and their family engaging in the same types of activities that they and their family participate in; this activity can help humanize types of people that a student has never had an opportunity to interact with personally. Welcoming guest speakers into the class that hail from differing backgrounds and have all made a positive contribution to important fields can also help dispel any preconceived notions that students might possess about the relative competence and value of people from different cultures.

Teaching students about multicultural role models also serves as an effective method for demonstrating that people of all genders, ethnicities, and appearances can have a positive influence on the world and deserve to be respected and emulated. It's important to avoid teaching students about the same minority role models repeatedly; after all, if students never learn about prominent African American citizens other than Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X then it's likely that some students will assume that few other African Americans have made substantial contributions to American culture and politics. If students are taught about the contributions that people of various ethnicities, genders, and creeds have made to a variety of different artistic, scientific, and political fields then they're more likely to respect and value diverse cultural backgrounds as a whole.

In addition to tailoring classroom activities and lessons toward multicultural appreciation, it is critical that the educator provide students with a culturally responsive learning environment. Wall spaces can be used to display posters depicting cultural groups in a non-stereotypical fashion, students can mark the countries from which their ancestors immigrated from on a world map, and classroom signs can be hung in several languages. Such touches will help promote an environment in which students from diverse backgrounds feel more comfortable being themselves and will help insulate students from the cultural and ethnic stereotypes that pervade television and other mass media outlets.

Another important goal of culturally responsive education is to teach students to respect and appreciate their own culture and heritage. Minority students can sometimes feel pressured to dispose of their cultural norms, behaviors, and traditions in order to fit in with the prevalent social order. When this happens it can create a significant disconnect between the culture of the student's school and community lives and can interfere with emotional growth and social development, frequently resulting in poor performance in social and academic domains. Providing opportunities for students to investigate unique facets of their community is one effective way to help students gain a greater appreciation for their own culture. Having students interview family members about cultural practices and traditions or write about important learning experiences that the student has experienced in his home community are just two of the many ways that students can explore their heritage.

Using a culturally-centered instructional approach can help facilitate cultural pride among diverse students. Given the current federal and state preoccupation with standardized testing in core subjects, it is particularly crucial that educators multiculturalize core curricula such as math, science, reading, and writing. Providing diverse students with examples of diverse contributors to these fields and using culture-specific subject matter when teaching core topics will help them perform better in these highly scrutinized and important domains. Placing ethnically diverse students in a situation that emphasizes the strong points of their culture's preferred means of learning may help provide them with a greater sense of self-efficacy and achievement.

Consistent exposure to positive role models is another excellent way to emphasize respect and admiration for the diverse student's own culture. All too often, students are exposed to ethnic stereotypes on television and in movies. Providing diverse students with role models who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and make social contributions in a non-stereotypical way helps students recognize the limitless ways in which they can have a positive impact on society.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Promoting Respect for Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A primary goal of culturally responsive education is to help all students become respectful of the multitudes of cultures and people that they'll interact with once they exit the educational setting. This can be a daunting task for the educator, given that the world at large is infinitely more complex and diverse than the microcosmic environment that the student inhabits.

# data[].attributes.body
A multicultural society is best served by a culturally responsive curriculum. Promoting cultural awareness is important in our society today, one classroom may have many different backgrounds. As the facilitator in the classroom you want to make sure to connect with each one.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Education Week - Education Futures: Emerging Trends in K-12

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A multicultural society is best served by a culturally responsive curriculum. Schools that acknowledge the diversity of their student population understand the importance of promoting cultural awareness. Teachers who are interested in fostering a cultural awareness in their classroom should actively demonstrate to their students that they genuinely care about their cultural, emotional, and intellectual needs. To this end, there are several strategies that you can use to build trusting relationships with diverse students. To incorporate cultural awareness into your classroom curriculum, you should:

1. Express interest in the ethnic background of your students. Encourage your students to research and share information about their ethnic background as a means of fostering a trusting relationship with fellow classmates. Analyze and celebrate differences in traditions, beliefs, and social behaviors. It is of note that this task helps European-American students realize that their beliefs and traditions constitute a culture as well, which is a necessary breakthrough in the development of a truly culturally responsive classroom. Also, take the time to learn the proper pronunciation of student names and express interest in the etymology of interesting and diverse names.

2. Redirect your role in the classroom from instructor to facilitator. Another important requirement for creating a nurturing environment for students is reducing the power differential between the instructor and students. Students in an authoritarian classroom may sometimes display negative behaviors as a result of a perceived sense of social injustice; in the culturally diverse classroom, the teacher thus acts more like a facilitator than an instructor. Providing students with questionnaires about what they find to be interesting or important provides them with a measure of power over what they get to learn and provides them with greater intrinsic motivation and connectedness to the material. Allowing students to bring in their own reading material and present it to the class provides them with an opportunity to both interact with and share stories, thoughts, and ideas that are important to their cultural and social perspective.

3. Maintain a strict level of sensitivity to language concerns. In traditional classrooms, students who are not native English speakers often feel marginalized, lost, and pressured into discarding their original language in favor of English. In a culturally responsive classroom, diversity of language is celebrated and the level of instructional materials provided to non-native speakers are tailored to their level of English fluency. Accompanying materials should be provided in the student's primary language and the student should be encouraged to master English.

4. Maintain high expectations for student performance. Given that culturally responsive instruction is a student-centered philosophy, it should come as no surprise that expectations for achievement are determined and assigned individually for each student. Students don't receive lavish praise for simple tasks but do receive praise in proportion to their accomplishments. If a student is not completing her work, then one should engage the student positively and help guide the student toward explaining how to complete the initial steps that need to be done to complete a given assignment or task.

5. Incorporate methods for self-testing. Another potent method for helping students become active participants in learning is to reframe the concept of testing. While testing is usually associated with grades (and therefore stress) in traditional classrooms, in a culturally responsive classroom frequent non-graded tests can be used to provide progress checks and ensure that students don't fall behind on required material. Teaching students to self-test while learning new information will help them better remember and use what they've learned in class and will help them realize on their own when they need to study a topic in greater depth.

6. Maintain an "inclusive" curriculum that remains respectful of differences. A culturally responsive curriculum is both inclusive in that it ensures that all students are included within all aspects of the school and it acknowledges the unique differences students may possess. A culturally responsive curriculum also encourages teachers' understanding and recognition of each student's non-school cultural life and background, and provides a means for them to incorporate this information into the curriculum, thus promoting inclusion.

Schools have the responsibility to teach all students how to synthesize cultural differences into their knowledge base, in order to facilitate students' personal and professional success in a diverse world. A culturally responsive curriculum helps students from a minority ethnic/racial background develop a sense of identity as individuals, as well as proudly identify with their particular culture group. Teachers can play a big role in helping these students succeed through the establishment of culturally responsive classrooms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Ways Teachers Can Foster Cultural Awareness in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A multicultural society is best served by a culturally responsive curriculum. Schools that acknowledge the diversity of their student population understand the importance of promoting cultural awareness. Teachers who are interested in fostering a cultural awareness in their classroom should actively demonstrate to their students that they genuinely care about their cultural, emotional, and intellectual needs.