Taking Advantage of Diversity in the Classroom

The American educational system gains much of its prominence and strength partly because of its rich diversity of students. There are many positive advantages of diversity in the classroom, as well as the challenges it brings to educators. There are benefits society has received by including students of other cultures, races, religions, and learning styles. Diversity in the classroom has led to an increased understanding of other cultures, and brought about change in how teachers present information. (Dozier 252)

It is imperative that teachers be educated adequately and prepared to take on the challenges of today's increasingly diverse classrooms. Teachers must be prepared to teach new, challenging standards to students with differing learning styles and cultural backgrounds. Schools can't have a set of standards for children going to college while neglecting the rest of the student body. All children deserve a challenging education.

One of the elements that make our nation unique is our enormous cultural diversity that exists in abundance in today's schools. This diversity should be viewed as an educational resource, not a problem. Every student brings his or her values, interests, and traditions into the classroom. The education and experiences that children bring into the classroom are valuable and it is essential that teachers facilitate their instruction around those differences.

Confirmation
College education, teacher training, in-service workshops, and professional development all stress the need for teachers to become facilitators in the classroom, ever-changing to varying student needs. This change from the traditional style of teaching is partly due to the growing amount of diversity in the classroom. Students come to school with different backgrounds and differing learning styles. It is essential that teachers take advantage of these differences and incorporate them into their teaching methods.