5.4: What Does a Diverse Classroom Look Like?

What Does a Diverse Classroom Look Like?

Diverse classrooms are inclusive of all cultures, abilities, and individuals. When set up correctly the environment becomes another teacher.

• shelves are low and far apart to support a child who might have a physical disability
• shelves are labeled with both pictures and words, including words in a child’s native language or in Braile.
• pictures and posters that make children to feel welcome
• represent different cultures in their native garb but also in normal street clothes
• include pictures of children with differing abilities interacting with peers as well as on their own.
• a classroom routine customized to support children with differing abilities

Image Source: Stockcake. Storytime with Kids. Public Domain.

Fig. 5.4. Photo of children of multiple ethnicities sitting on preschool story rug looking at books.

Classroom Strategies - Understanding Fairness and Respect for Others

“That’s not fair!” expresses a preschooler’s concern for fairness, and the child’s growing sensitivity to others’ feelings also contributes to this concern. Efforts to act fairly can be manifested in taking turns, sharing, and cooperating.

Teach children how classroom rules help to maintain fairness by

• explaining the rules (and the reasons for them) and how they emphasize fairness
• explaining and modeling the need to cooperate with what matters to someone else
• use words to help children understand each other's emotions, viewpoints, and goals
• teach that "fair" doesn't mean "same" --- fair means doing what is needed for each individual child
• teach children to notice each others different capabilities ---
  • notice when one child may need an adult’s help to do something (e.g., hold the jar steady) but another child has the skill and may be asked to do it without help

You can support children's understanding of fairness and respect with the following interactions and strategies:

• maintain a culturally inclusive environment
• be mindful of the social expectations of children’s home cultures
• model respect and care in everyday interaction
• listen attentively to children’s ideas and feelings
• use language that promotes concern and care for the community (e.g., our class, our room).
• discuss WHY fairness and respect are so important
• talk about the feelings that happen in certain situations like not sharing
• use situations in which children need adaptations to talk about differences and fairness
  • using simple language
  • relatable examples
  • visual aids
  • interactive activities
• teach social skills, such as patience and generosity, by using social stories and role-play experiences
• provide activities that help children see multiple perspectives
  • describe another child's feelings and needs and how they are different from another's
  • offer suggestions for appropriate responses
• coach children during their interactions with peers
• intervene and address negative interactions immediately to ensure an environment where all children feel safe and secure
• use picture to enhance children’s understanding of ways to express feelings and build peer relationships

Sources

• Esquival, Krischa. eta al. The Beginning of Bias. The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education. LibreTexts, Social Studies Library. Shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Krischa Esquivel, Emily Elam, Jennifer Paris, & Maricela Tafoya.

• Esquival, Krischa. eta al. Going One Step Further with an Anti-bias Classroom. The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education. LibreTexts, Social Studies Library. Shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Krischa Esquivel, Emily Elam, Jennifer Paris, & Maricela Tafoya.