Diversity Toolkit by Jamie White

Add Diverse Books

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:39:06 UTC

Students should have access to literature that represents multiple different cultures.

Share music from different cultures

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:40:19 UTC

Music is something that is represented by all human beings in the world. There are enjoyable folk songs from many cultures that can be taught or at least shown to children.

Have art in your classroom

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:41:50 UTC

Have you ever been into a classroom that is just totally blank? White walls with maybe some print outs, desks, and a floor; the classroom doesn't have its own character. The more culturally inclusive classrooms also have their own culture. Collect and share art.

Have students be included in the classroom individually.

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:43:37 UTC

When it is the student's turn to share about themselves and their life, this is the time to model asking appropriate questions about someone's culture. This is the time to model respectfully celebrating and enjoying culture.

Teach math in a way that includes culture.

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:45:52 UTC

People retain information if they can relate it to their own lives. Food, music, family, and ethics are things that students experience in their own life. In math, you can use surveys to teach how charts work. You can use family gatherings to introduce fractions. Apply it to life somehow.

Teach history in a way that includes multiple different perspectives.

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:50:03 UTC

I would, as a rule, teach from content from at least 2 different perspectives. For example, when I teach about explorers from Europe discovering the Americas, I will teach about Native America. When I teach about men creating American Government, I will teach about when women became included in the government.

Let students see how all of the subjects are connected to culture.

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:52:47 UTC

This can be done by incorporating all of the learning subjects into a culture project. Take a scientific experiment, mathematical calculations, history, and language arts and incorportate it together into Project Based Learning.

Show students how science effects culture.

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:54:16 UTC

Scientific discoveries over the years have affected culture in many different ways. A good example is the pandemic and historical illnesses that were solved by science. Another good example is the ongoing research that people do on how kids learn.

Flexible seating

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:55:27 UTC

Let students find a way to position their body that supports their own learning and have different ways to sit and interract. Group spaces, individual spaces, and partner spaces.

Share students photos

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:56:27 UTC

Students may bring in a few photos from home to put in the classroom that they can share with each other. Also, the teacher can take pictures of students together and include it in the classroom.

Incorporate maps in many different ways

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 15:57:56 UTC

Maps, cultural study, and information on travel is a part of teaching culture. Students should be taught that there is a whole world beyond their home.

Have other languages somewhere.

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 16:00:12 UTC

Students don't need to be committed to a fully bilingual education to be exposed to multiple languages. Even if the teacher read in another language from time to time, that exposure would affect the student. Art an decor in another language is available.

Host a culture fair

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 16:01:03 UTC

Host a culture fair. This can be done small or large.

Provide multiple ways for parents to connect

whitejamie237 — 2025-02-01 16:03:38 UTC

There may be barriers that keep some parents from reaching out. A teacher can reach out. Allow parents to speak to you in person, through email, through video chat, and through text. This may help them have a better ability to communicate.