Volume VIII Issue II Show
Share this newsletter on Success Factors in Diverse SchoolsBruce facilitating a Leading the Learning® workshop The term diverse is often used to provide a picture of a school’s demographics by ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, education designation (e.g., special education services), and past achievement levels. In a more expanded view of diversity, we know that most of our students could be described as diverse since they have different learning styles, learn at different rates, have different interests, and different levels of readiness as they approach new learning. Most of our schools are becoming more and more diverse over time. Some school demographic patterns offer greater challenges in the quest to meet the learning needs of all students. It is complicated, demanding, often stressful work that requires tenacity, patience, and strength of will among the adults in these schools. Schools that have successfully tackled the demands of highly diverse environments view their jobs not with a sense of desperation, but as obstacles which can be addressed and overcome. Through hard work, determination, open minds, energized leaders, and forward-looking teachers, they have achieved success. We all know that not all ideas work in all environments. Nevertheless, there are certain beliefs and practices that have been shown to consistently impact student achievement in a positive way. In the subsequent paragraphs, you will find thought-provoking ideas that may help to increase student learning in diverse environments. Some of the ideas are part of education’s current lexicon and have received extensive attention in the literature. They, nonetheless, bear repeating since they fit into the category of “tried and true.” Other ideas may be less publicized but may initiate conversations that have the potential to positively impact student learning. All members of the school community adhere to and act on the same set of beliefs. All students are provided with instruction that is engaging, purposeful, challenging, and that is guaranteed from classroom to classroom across the school. All teachers know their students well. Teachers
identify individual learning deficits quickly and intervene purposefully. Leaders meet the professional development needs of individual teachers. The school declares war on absenteeism. New teachers are hired carefully and steadfastly maintained when they are successful. Teachers avoid traditional practices that have little impact on student learning. Strike a balance between
rules and flexibility. Connect learning to family and community. Hopefully the ten practices presented here will provide food for thought as you continue in your quest to improve the achievement of your students. You may want to work collaboratively to rank order the ideas in terms of potential impact, assess which are in place and functioning smoothly or are currently not well established norms, or consider what other variables should be considered. Permission is granted for reprinting and distribution of this newsletter for non-commercial use only. Please include the following citation on all copies: Oliver, Bruce. “Success Factor’s in Diverse Schools” Just for the ASKing! February 2011. Reproduced with permission of Just ASK Publications & Professional Development (Just ASK). © 2011 Just ASK. All rights reserved. Available at www.justaskpublications.com. Free Top Ten Tips to Ask Myself as I Design Lessons“These questions can be used to promote thinking about teaching and learning during the planning process, while teaching, and again when reflecting on the impact of the lesson either alone or with a mentor or supervisor.” What are some of the factors that contribute to diverse learners?This includes many different factors: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious belief, or political conviction. All these factors work together to inform how students (and teachers, and everyone else) encounter the world.
What are the factors that bring about student diversity inside a classroom?Students have always had individual differences in learning preferences and strategies, influenced by sociocultural factors such as ethnicity, culture, educational background, gender, geographical location, and socioeconomic status.
How can you support students from diverse backgrounds?How do you Manage Diversity in the Classroom?. Get to Know Your Students. ... . Maintain Consistent Communication. ... . Acknowledge and Respect Every Student. ... . Practice Cultural Sensitivity. ... . Incorporate Diversity in the Lesson Plan. ... . Give Students Freedom and Flexibility.. What strategies are successful for teaching diverse student populations?7 things you can do to teach diverse learners. Make an IEP cheat sheet. ... . Encourage active learning. ... . Embrace small group and learning stations. ... . Group by learning style, not ability. ... . Promote project-based learning. ... . Incorporate ed-tech and adaptive learning tools. ... . Provide alternative testing options.. |