Diversity In Schools: A High Point University Twitter Chat

On April 7th, Ms. Lisa Pagano (@edu_ms_pagano) hosted a diversity chat on Twitter for High Point University students. Ms. Pagano is a gifted education specialist in Charlotte, NC. The twitter chat was held where she posted a question and all participants were invited to answer using the hashtag HPU4200. The majority of participants were from High Point University but others participated from Charlotte, Lenoir, Davidson County, Davie County among other various North Carolina locations and school districts. If you would like to view the archive for the twitter chat, you can see it here.

The questions and various answers were as follows:

Q1. What does 'diversity' mean to you?

• "It's all encompassing - race, gender, cultural, socioeconomic, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical appearance"
• "Diversity may refer to the student demographic, instructional needs, instructional materials/resources"
• Diversity means accepting and adapting to my students no matter what is deemed the norm to society"

Q2. How can teachers show that they embrace diversity in the school community and in the world?

• "Attitude towards others is the best way! Find the good that each person has to offer and celebrate it."
• "It's important for teachers to get to know each student and their background, and form meaningful relationships with all students"
• Classroom libraries, being representative of all cultures is an easy, welcoming way to show an embrace toward diversity"

Q3. What are some strategies that you have for building meaningful relationships with the diverse group of students we serve?

• "Endeavor to create a classroom culture that gives voice and choice"
• "Building common experiences changes the climate in diverse classrooms. Focusing on similarities and sharing differences openly"

Q4. What are some ideas for incorporating different cultures into your classroom?

• "Allow students to bring in items or share with the class how the lesson you're teaching may connect with their culture"
• "Use books that talk about different cultures frequently. Bring in diverse guests to share with the class"
• "Have students bring something from home to share with the class. Then read to compare/contrast that tradition to other cultures"

Q5. When dealing with diverse populations, what are some strategies and suggestions for effective classroom management?

• "From day one, step up a safe environment and set the expectations for your students regarding treatment of one another and respect"
• "Treating all students equally and with respect. Also, being a positive role model and a reliable figure in their life!"

Q6. How can you best prepare yourself to work in a highly diverse school?

• "Gain knowledge about various cultures, be open minded, be purposeful with everything you do in class"
• "Put yourself in highly diverse situations. You have to be willing to step outside of the classroom and into the community"

Q7. What resources or links can you share to help teachers establish a respectful learning environment for their students?

• ACSD
• Teaching Tolerance

I felt as though this twitter chat was a way for many educators of all levels to collaborate, share their resources, and enjoy discussion about something that is so truly important to our own education, and the education of our students. "How can teachers effectively engage students from diverse backgrounds? It's a question many teachers face at the beginning of the school year, and of course, there isn't one prescribed strategy that works." (Davis, 2013) There is indeed, no one way to engage students from diverse populations. Through collaboration, PLC's and research, teachers can find new ideas and ways to constantly keep their students engaged. We want our students to be engaged no matter their background, race, religion, etc. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of ideas and resources that I gained just from one twitter PLC. I would highly recommend another to colleagues, friends, and educators.

Resources:

http://www.ascd.org/Default.aspx

Davis, M. (2013). Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers. Edutopia. Retrieved April, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/preparing-cultural-diversity-resources-teachers 

http://www.tolerance.org/