Unity in Diversity by Greisy Cifuentes

Strategy 1: Multicultural Literature

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:29:12 UTC

There are many children's books that focus on celebrating traditions and cultures. Making those books come to life inside the classroom and allowing children to celebrate and share about the traditions they follow in their cultures.

Strategy 2: Opportunities to Share in Social Studies

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:31:42 UTC

In social studies/history, we often talk about historical events, but we don't often give the students the opportunity to share how those historical events might've had an impact on them. Giving students the opportunity to share personal connections to any historical event would build a more inclusive classroom.

Strategy 3: Symbols and Shapes in Math

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:34:20 UTC

Math doesn't always have to be about numbers or strategies. There is a point where you get to talk about shapes, and looking at the flags from the countries your students are from would engage them and allow them to initiate conversations where they would get to share multicultural perspectives.

Strategy 1: Allowing Different Forms of Expression

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:38:46 UTC

Children come from different backgrounds, which means that each child can bring something different to the table. When it comes to speaking or writing in the classroom, some students might have difficulty expressing their ideas or feelings. Therefore, giving them different options or ways for them to respond to any topic (including in their native language) would help them feel encouraged, safe, and welcomed.

Strategy 2: Present Concept in Student Vocabulary

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:42:11 UTC

There is nothing better than using your students' native languages in your instruction. Not only would this help them understand the concept better, but it will also help them feel safe, comfortable, and included in your classroom, thus bringing better academic performance.

Strategy 3: Making the Learning Experience More Contextual

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:47:15 UTC

Similar to strategy #2, modifying your lessons in a way in which you include things that your students would be able to connect to. For example, including events that might occur in their communities or experiences they might've gone through before would drag their attention to your lessons.

Strategy 4: Activate Student's Prior Knowledge

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:50:44 UTC

One of the most important teaching practices starts with getting to know your students' backgrounds and interests. Once you have this type of information, you can use it to your advantage by starting your lessons by sharing ideas or experiences that your students will be able to connect to. This will help them activate their schema and apply it to their new learning.

Strategy 4: Adding Culture to Writing

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:54:11 UTC

When it comes to writing, students often have a difficult time thinking about what to write. However, when you have conversations with them and talk about their past experiences or their backgrounds, they are able to pick something and write about that. Encouraging your students to talk about their culture, beliefs, and interests always lightens up their brains for writing.

Strategy 1: Parent Academy

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:56:12 UTC

Twice a month, invite your student's parents to come and learn about the things their children inside the classroom. Allow them to practice the same things their children do on a daily basis and provide resources for them to use in order to support their child at home.

Strategy 2: School-Wide Cultural Diversity Festival

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 05:59:11 UTC

Lead a cultural diversity festival in which educators invite their student's families to be part of a parade in which they share their dressing styles. In addition, they may also set up a booth in which they can share any traditional dishes that originated in their country.

Strategy 3: Lead a Parent Workshop

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 06:01:22 UTC

Teachers, students, and staff are not the only smarties in the school! Parents are a great resource too! Invite parents to lead a workshop on anything they feel could benefit other families. For example, a bilingual parent can lead a workshop on giving English lessons to Spanish-speaking parents.

Strategy 4: Using a Letter

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 06:04:36 UTC

Involving family members can be as easy as communicating with them in any type of way or form. Teachers often send a daily letter home to share about how their child's day went. This could be a great form of communication for parents who are not very familiarized with technology. Not only would this keep the parents updated on their child's academic journey, but it will also motivate the students to perform better at school.

Strategy 1: Celebrating Holidays

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 06:06:41 UTC

Taking the time to celebrate any specific holidays (regardless of the culture), would make your students feel happy and included in your classroom. This is the perfect time to learn about the origin of the holiday and the ways that they are celebrated in different countries!

Strategy 2: New Word of the Day

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 06:08:43 UTC

Taking 5-10 minutes during morning meetings to learn a new word/phrase (in a different language) would open more opportunities for your students to share more about their native language. This will make your classroom more inclusive and your students would feel more encouraged to participate.

Strategy 3: Be Mindful about the Physical Environment

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 06:10:41 UTC

Believe it or not, but the way your classroom looks does affect student behavior and academic performance. In order to foster a multicultural classroom environment, decorate your room with flags from different countries, visuals from different cultures, and include different languages around your room.

Strategy 4: Including Culture in your Classroom Rules/Norms

greisycifuentes229 — 2025-03-31 06:12:44 UTC

When you establish your classroom norms, rules, or expectations at the beginning of the school year, take advantage of this time and invite your students to share ideas on rules that they must follow at home. These rules can come from beliefs, traditions, etc. Include them in your classroom promises/contract!