Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum

Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum

Monthly Update sign up
Mailing List signup
LINK: Social Studies in Action Home
Unity and Diversity.
Exploring the Issues.
Applying What You've Learned.

Exploring the Issues


Unity in the Classroom

Ms. Banks.

"Students learn what they live. A classroom organized along democratic principles is the best way of teaching democracy. Students should also understand that the outside world is diverse, even if their classroom is not. And given the mobility of modern life, they're probably going to encounter diversity wherever they go, so it's important to develop the skills to relate to people who are different."
-- Cherry McGee Banks, Professor of Education, University of Washington, Bothell

Wrestling with the Issue

  • How can classroom set-up and visual aids promote unity and diversity?
  • How do you ensure that students connect democratic practices in the classroom with those in the community?
  • How do you teach the skills and knowledge needed to relate to different people?

Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

"I want students to realize that the world is much bigger than their neighborhood and much more diverse and interesting than they could ever imagine.... That knowledge will foster the desire to learn more about other cultures."
-- Gwen Larsen, Sixth-Grade Social Studies Teacher, Dorchester, Massachusetts

Ms. Larsen.

Wrestling with the Issue

  • Why is it important to teach students about the world beyond their community?
  • How do you foster the concept of unity in a classroom where diversity is the primary focus?
  • How would you introduce students to cultures that are represented or not represented in their classroom?

Linguistic and Learning Diversity

Ms. Banks.

"Students learn in different ways. But if you are familiar with different ways of delivering the curriculum, you will be more likely to reach the full range of students."

Wrestling with the Issue

  • What strategies do you use to accommodate linguistic and learning diversity?
  • How can instruction be designed to benefit students at all skill levels?
  • What are the risks and rewards of highlighting learning differences?

© Annenberg Foundation 2015. All rights reserved. Legal Policy