The Edvocate

Top Menu

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Books
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Edupedia
    • Pedagogue
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • PreK-12
    • Assessment
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development
    • Classroom Management
    • Early Childhood
    • EdTech & Innovation
    • Education Leadership
    • Equity
    • First Year Teachers
    • Gifted and Talented Education
    • Parental Involvement
    • Policy & Reform
    • Special Education
    • Teachers
  • Higher Ed
    • Best Colleges and Universities
    • Best College and University Programs
    • Diversity
    • HBCU’s
    • Higher Education
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • International Education
  • Advertise
  • The Tech Edvocate Awards
    • The Awards Process
    • Finalists and Winners of The 2023 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2022 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2021 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2020 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2019 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2018 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2017 Tech Edvocate Awards
    • Award Seals
  • Apps
    • GPA Calculator for College
    • GPA Calculator for High School
    • Cumulative GPA Calculator
    • Grade Calculator
    • Weighted Grade Calculator
    • Final Grade Calculator
  • The Tech Edvocate
  • Post a Job
  • AI Powered Personal Tutor

logo

The Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Books
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Edupedia
    • Pedagogue
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • PreK-12
    • Assessment
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development
    • Classroom Management
    • Early Childhood
    • EdTech & Innovation
    • Education Leadership
    • Equity
    • First Year Teachers
    • Gifted and Talented Education
    • Parental Involvement
    • Policy & Reform
    • Special Education
    • Teachers
  • Higher Ed
    • Best Colleges and Universities
    • Best College and University Programs
    • Diversity
    • HBCU’s
    • Higher Education
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • International Education
  • Advertise
  • The Tech Edvocate Awards
    • The Awards Process
    • Finalists and Winners of The 2023 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2022 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2021 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2020 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2019 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2018 Tech Edvocate Awards
      • Finalists and Winners of The 2017 Tech Edvocate Awards
    • Award Seals
  • Apps
    • GPA Calculator for College
    • GPA Calculator for High School
    • Cumulative GPA Calculator
    • Grade Calculator
    • Weighted Grade Calculator
    • Final Grade Calculator
  • The Tech Edvocate
  • Post a Job
  • AI Powered Personal Tutor
  • How to Implement the Stations: Interacting with Multiple Texts Teaching Strategy in Your Classroom

  • Dyspraxia: Everything You Need to Know

  • Most Interesting “The House on Mango Street’ Essay Topics To Write About

  • Most Interesting “The Handmaid’s Tale” Essay Topics to Write About

  • “Great Gatsby” Essay Topics

  • “Most Interesting the Glass Menagerie” Essay Topics to Write About

  • Most Interesting “The Gift of The Magi” Essay Topics To Write About

  • “The Fall of The House of Usher” Essay Topics

  • Interesting Essay Topics for “The Crucible”

  • Most Interesting “The Cask of Amontillado” Essay Topics

Diversity
Home›Diversity›5 Things That Educators Should Know About Diversity

5 Things That Educators Should Know About Diversity

By Matthew Lynch
May 2, 2017
1
Spread the love

We live in a diverse world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the United States. For decades, our country has been known as the “Land of Opportunity.” A chance to participate in making use of these opportunities, however, requires the acquisition of an education. This education is easier to come by for some groups of people than others. For instance, there are some people who still believe that children with learning disabilities or physical disabilities should be kept out of the school environment. Not only does this type of thinking prevent these children from receiving an adequate education; it also prevents them from becoming independent and active contributors to society in their lives beyond school.

In order to understand the full impact of student differences on school environments, multiple aspects of diversity need to be addressed. The areas in which differences can exist include gender, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. It is also important to consider student variability in areas such as learning style and ability when we address the differences existing among students in schools.

Diversity in the United States is well represented in American schools. Public schools were created with the intention of ensuring that all students have equal access to quality education. Teachers today work in schools with diverse populations of students, in a country where diversity is only now being accepted and embraced. This diversity, however, extends beyond the boundaries of culture and ethnicity. It includes differences in affiliation, preferences, and sexual orientation. In this article, we will discuss all of the things that educators should know about diversity.

How intellectually diverse are our schools? Older IQ tests as a means of measuring intelligence are seen as flawed, and were often used to promote a racist agenda. Howard Gardner’s notion of multiple intelligences is gaining acceptance. Currently, the Wechler test, which also takes into account a broad variety of factors, is viewed as the most accurate measure of intelligence.

Gifted students and students with learning disabilities require special attention. Gifted students may benefit from broadened and accelerated learning. For students who have learning disabilities, it is important to ascertain the nature of the learning disability and work at solutions to enable the student to learn effectively. Students with learning disabilities may be highly intelligent, and many noted personalities have had learning disabilities. The law stipulates that students with learning disabilities should be given appropriate and nondiscriminatory education. Teachers will have to fill out Individualized Education Plans for these students.

How does gender affect student learning? Boys and girls have traditionally been treated differently in the classroom, and have been represented differently in textbooks, reflecting cultural norms. Boys are more likely to enroll in classes in mathematics, science, and engineering. Girls tend to do better in reading and writing and other academic subjects, but women still do not achieve the same job status and pay as men with equal qualifications: the gender gap has not yet been breached. While there are socially constructed differences, there also seem to be biological factors at play, though these are still not fully understood. It is important to create gender-aware classrooms, using teaching styles that appeal to both boys and girls. An approach focusing on students where they are, rather than the standardized “one size fits all” idea, may be useful.

What are the educational implications of sexual orientation? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are gaining increasing acceptance in educational settings, though this is highly dependent on location. However, the situation in U.S. schools is still difficult for LGBT students, and they are often the focus of bullying and aggression. This is even truer for LGBT students of color. Regardless of the policies of the school and the state, it is crucial that all students are safe from bullying, whether verbal or physical, from fellow students and teachers. As a teacher, you are obliged to protect your students, and to report abuse.

What are some of the other challenges that students face? Poverty is a dire and growing problem in the United States, particularly among minorities. As the gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans continues to widen, those at the bottom end of the economic scale are being left behind. Problems they face include drugs, violence, broken homes, hunger, and inadequate medical coverage.

One and a half million children in the United States  are homeless, and face a special set of problems, including lack of nutrition and difficulties finding transportation. Many have faced  physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Teachers should be aware of signs that point to abuse, including shyness, bruises, and aggression, and should follow up with the appropriate authorities. Note that 97 percent of juvenile offenders were abused as children.

Bullying is perennial problem in schools, and now includes cyber bullying: bullying over the Internet. Violence is a related problem. In schools that have a problem with violence, structures should be put in place to minimize the issues. Drug use includes alcohol and tobacco, as well as illegal drugs. Thus far, programs implemented by schools and the government have done little to alleviate the problem.

Other issues faced by students include pregnancy and sex outside of marriage. Most schools promote abstinence, while still offering advice on safe sex and preventing and coping with pregnancy.

How can teachers accommodate different learning styles? Every student has an individual style of learning. They may be classified into three broad types of learners: visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. It may be helpful to view intelligence not as a linear scale but as a web. Your task as a teacher is to develop each student’s strengths and needs. Students are influenced by both “emotional” factors, which refers to the responsibility and persistence that the student naturally puts into learning, and “sociological” factors, which refers whether a student has a preference in learning individually, or in small or large groups. The Learning Style Inventory, which looks at five categories—environmental emotional, sociological, physiological, and psychological—may be helpful in assessing a student’s learning style.

Did we miss anything?

Click here to read all of the articles from this series.

TagsedchatEducationk12learningschoolsteacherThings Educators Should Know
Previous Article

PR with Panache! Becomes First PR and ...

Next Article

The A-Z of Education Blogs: Letters D-E

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • International Education

    Why U.S. Education Must Evolve to Stay Ahead

    September 10, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • one-room schoolhouse
    Policy & ReformTrending Topics

    4 Things That Educators Should Know About Education Reform

    May 18, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • pass or fail
    Policy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesTrending Topics

    Pass or Fail: Who are the Students at Risk for Retention?

    May 22, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Uncategorized

    High school graduation rate soars in the U.S.

    September 26, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Modern ParentingParenting

    8 Things That Kids Should Learn Before Kindergarten

    March 23, 2018
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech & Innovation

    Three Signs Your Class Is Suffering from the Digital Divide

    July 8, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch

1 comment

  1. Module 2: 5 THINGS THAT EDUCATORS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DIVERSITY - Language Chameleon 4 October, 2020 at 01:11 Log in to Reply

    […] 5 Things That Educators Should Know About Diversity […]

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Search

Registration and Login

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Subscribe to The Edvocate Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAndroidby EmailRSS
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • How to Implement the Stations: Interacting with Multiple Texts Teaching Strategy in Your Classroom

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 23, 2023
  • Dyspraxia: Everything You Need to Know

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 23, 2023
  • Most Interesting “The House on Mango Street’ Essay Topics To Write About

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 22, 2023
  • Most Interesting “The Handmaid’s Tale” Essay Topics to Write About

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 22, 2023
  • “Great Gatsby” Essay Topics

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 22, 2023
  • 18 Reasons the U.S. Education System is Failing

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 3, 2017
  • The Top 5 Unexpected Benefits of Early Childhood Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    February 29, 2016
  • 7 Benefits of STEM Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 12, 2019
  • What is Culturally Responsive Pedagogy?

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 21, 2016
  • pass or fail

    Black Boys in Crisis: Why Aren’t They Reading?

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 16, 2017
  • School Evaluation For Special Education What Parents Need to Know
    on
    December 27, 2022

    A Guide to Norm-Referenced Tests

    […] Norm-referenced tests – ...
  • Effectively Educating Diverse Student Populations: Strategies That Work - Applead Hofu
    on
    December 21, 2022

    6 Ways to Implement a Real Multicultural Education in the Classroom

    […] as to successfully ...
  • The Importance Of Sight Words In Early Reading – GoGreenva.org
    on
    December 21, 2022

    Understanding Letter Recognition and It’s Role in Preliteracy

    […] between letters, numbers, ...
  • Online Education in Chennai - Birla Brainiacs
    on
    December 20, 2022

    The Advantages and Limitations of Homeschooling

    […] Online Education in ...
  • Advancing Technology Education in Rural High Schools Across ... - The Tech Edvocate - VSAY .IN
    on
    December 20, 2022

    7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    […] technology advancements have ...

Ask an Expert

  • Ask An Expert

    How Dumbed Down Education Is Creating a National Security Crisis

    Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our country’s educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. With the various ailments plaguing our educational system, education reforms have attempted ...
  • Ask An Expert

    21 Inspirational Quotes That Nelson Mandela Made About Education

    Spread the loveWe all have our heroes. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. One of my heroes is the late-great Nelson Mandela, who ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssistive TechnologyCareer ReadinessChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital LeadershipDisabilitiesDiversityEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFirst Year TeachersFreshHigh SchoolK-12Middle SchoolModern ParentingParent & Family TechParental InvolvementParentingPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformPreK-12Special EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachers

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 7: How Digital Age Teachers Can Win Over Parents

    Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. One of the most integral parts of this collaborative team ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital LeadershipDisabilitiesEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationK-12Online Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTesting

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out

    Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. To ensure that the next ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisBullyingChild DevelopmentChild Development TechClassroom ManagementCurrent Ed NewsDigital LeadershipEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEdTech Startups & BusinessesEducation LeadershipEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechK-12Matthew LynchModern ParentingOnline Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTestingYear-Round Schooling

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher

    Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? I respond by mentioning my 10th-grade Biology teacher, Mrs. Minor, and ...

International Education

  • International Education

    The Opportunities in Teaching Abroad

    Spread the loveAs education becomes more globalized, teaching abroad has become an increasingly viable and appealing career option for many educators. The allure of teaching abroad is evident in the ...
  • International Education

    PISA (The Program for International Student Assessment): Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. Some ...
  • Education FoundationsInternational Education

    4 Reasons You Should Study Geography

    Spread the loveUsually, people are under the wrong impression that geography does not offer many job opportunities, and there are no jobs for a geographer. They think that studying geography ...
  • International Education

    How International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Work

    Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. Unlike most other learning initiatives, this program deeply ...
  • International Education

    Globalization: Everything You Need to Know

    Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. There ...

Early Childhood Education

  • Early ChildhoodTeachers

    19 Tips for Teaching Kids to Not Interrupt Classmates During Learning Experiences

    Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach kids not to interrupt classmates during learning experiences? If so, keep reading. 1. Give constant, positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior. Ignore ...
  • Early ChildhoodTeachers

    20 Ways to Teach Kids to Take Care of Their Personal Property

    Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? If so, keep reading. 1. Observe the learner while they are performing schoolwork ...
  • Early ChildhoodTeachers

    13 Ways to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners

    Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? If so, keep reading. 1. Train the learner in appropriate mealtime etiquette (e.g., speaking with an empty ...
  • Early ChildhoodTeachers

    20 Strategies to Encourage Students to Take Care of their Personal Property

    Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? If so, keep reading. 1. Praise the learner for appropriate care of personal ...
  • Early ChildhoodTeachers

    14 Strategies to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners

    Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? If so, keep reading. 1. Praise the learner for demonstrating appropriate mealtime behaviors: (a) give the learner ...

Gifted and Talented Education

  • Gifted and Talented Education

    How to Reform Gifted Education

    Spread the loveGifted children are those who demonstrate exceptional potential in one or more areas of intelligence, such as academics, arts, athletics or leadership. Such children have advanced cognitive development ...
  • Gifted and Talented Education

    Twice-Exceptional: What Does it Mean?

    Spread the loveTo be twice-exceptional is to be exceptionally gifted in some academic aspects while being below average compared to peers in other aspects. As a matter of fact, such ...
  • Gifted and Talented Education

    A Guide to Talent Search Programs

    Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. Different avenues are then provided for these students to channel their ...
  • Gifted and Talented EducationK-12

    Homogeneous Grouping: What You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis term refers to the grouping of students by mental capability, aptitude, or hobbies. For instance, gifted students are placed in one group, and students with special needs ...
  • Gifted and Talented Education

    Cluster Grouping: What You Need to Know

    Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. For example, about five to seven extremely bright pupils with comparable skill ...

Black Boys in Crisis Series

  • Black Boys in Crisis

    Are Boys of Color Being Set Up to Fail By Schools?

    Spread the loveThe educational system in the United States has long been criticized for not providing equal opportunities to boys of color. It is no secret that Black and Latino ...
  • Black Boys in Crisis

    The Importance of Mentoring Young African-American Males

    Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. Compared to their middle-class counterparts, it ...
  • Black Boys in CrisisDiversityEquity

    7 Ways That Black Students are Discriminated Against in U.S K-12 Schools

    Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. It should come as no surprise that their children face the same ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisChild Development TechClassroom ManagementDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital LeadershipDisabilitiesEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEducation LeadershipElementary EducationElementary SchoolEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationK-12Online Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTesting

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out

    Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. To ensure that the next ...
  • Ask An ExpertAssessmentAssistive TechnologyBlack Boys in CrisisBullyingChild DevelopmentChild Development TechClassroom ManagementCurrent Ed NewsDigital LeadershipEarly ChildhoodEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformEdTech Startups & BusinessesEducation LeadershipEquityFeaturedFirst Year TeachersFreshGamificationGifted and Talented EducationHBCU'sHigh SchoolHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechK-12Matthew LynchModern ParentingOnline Learning & eLearningOpEducationPersonalized LearningPodcastPolicy & ReformRetention & Social Promotion SeriesSpecial EducationSTEMTeacher EducationTeachersTestingYear-Round Schooling

    The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher

    Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? I respond by mentioning my 10th-grade Biology teacher, Mrs. Minor, and ...

RSS Matthew on Education Week

  • Au Revoir from Education Futures November 20, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • 6 Steps to Data-Driven Literacy Instruction October 17, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • Four Keys to a Modern IT Approach in K-12 Schools October 2, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? September 27, 2018 Matthew Lynch
  • Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention September 10, 2018 Matthew Lynch

About Us

The Edvocate was created in 2014 to argue for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education and the opportunities for learning afforded to P-20 students in America. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of America’s P-20 system.

That reorganization, though, and the underlying effort, will have much to do with reviving the American education system, and reviving a national love of learning.  The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation.

Newsletter

Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact

The Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
[email protected]

Follow us

Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.