Diversity In The 21st Century Essay

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The 21st Century American Classroom The 21st century American classroom, by most accounts, is diverse. According to Snowman and McCown (2014), “diversity can be a strength in the classroom; it supplies the learning environment with different perspectives and experiences that can enrich discussions and lead to new questions (p. 143). However, in order to fully realize diversity as a strength, diversity must be understood. What do you think about when you are asked to define diversity? Most people would list different skin tones, food preferences, native languages, all traits centering on ethnicity. Yes, ethnicity is an important aspect of diversity; however we must take into account, gender, sexual orientation, culture, socioeconomics, intellectual and emotional …show more content…

223). Programs for gifted and talented students do not receive federal assistance and rely on state and local school districts for funding and services (National Association for Gifted Children, 2010-2011). The implications for lack of funding and accountability is evident in the US’s lagging performance on international exams, the dependency on foreign-talent in the fields of math and science, and the widening achievement gap between “high-ability minority and low income students and their non-minority peers” (NAGC, 2010-2011).
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Whether a student is black, white, emotionally disturbed or gifted and talented they all have individual wants and needs. It is the teacher’s responsibility to develop connections and build relationships with each of their students, regardless of any “labels”. In other words, truly knowing your student is the most relevant pedagogy for promoting a culturally competent classroom.

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