DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM

INTRODUCTION

Diversity is part of the school culture. We have students from different nationalities. Looking at the United Arab Emirates as a country that promotes diversity is another way of beginning my reflection. Million people worldwide are in UAE working and doing business, and their children attend one school or the other. Therefore, almost all schools in the UAE have students from different nationalities. My school and some other schools took diversity to another level by employing teachers from diverse counties to care for the student's needs, hence someone like me, African teaching in my milieu. At the same time, some schools do not accept teachers from other nationals. For such schools, one valuable approach is to increase awareness of the significance of acknowledging and accepting all aspects of diversity in the classroom.

MEANING OF DIVERSITY

Diversity can be conceived in several ways depending on the context. In my classrooms, I conceptualise diversity as recognising that each student brings specific perspectives, talents and ideas to the classroom. These distinctions may include race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status, age, capacity, religious or political views, or other ideologies. Diversity is discovering and including these variations to enrich learning and the classrooms.

HOW TO INCORPORATE DIVERSITY TO THE CLASSROOM

·????????Ensure a positive atmosphere in my classroom. Make sure the students are respectful, healthy and friendly to each other.

·????????As an educator, ensure that the students are prepared to work and interact with those who bring new experiences in a diverse setting. Train the students for the diverse workforce by incorporating various backgrounds into instruction and grouping them in mixed nationals during class activities.

·????????Use learning materials from various backgrounds of students present in your classroom.

·????????Encourage students to talk about their cultures, food and celebrations.

At the School level, students' and teachers' courses and training should focus on cultural diversity and professional development awareness. The school management should encourage families' participation of diverse students in the learning process, and diversity-friendly strategies should be developed for the school. The school includes diversity by hiring diverse educators and ensuring various people attend school-hosted events.

Please share your thoughts on this topic.

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