Today, many schools have students from different cultural background which makes it challenging for teachers when it comes to maintaining equality and respect in the classroom. Multiculturalism should be embraced in any learning institution by implementing relevant policies that everyone in school should follow. This helps in creating a conducive learning environment that will translate in excellent academic results (Garcia 2013).
How to include multiculturalism in the classroom
Multiculturalism can be integrated in the classroom through various ways which include; creating multicultural projects which require students to select a topic outside their cultural background (Blake, 2015). Another strategy involves exposing students to foreign languages in the school curriculum (McIntyre, 2014). Also, encouraging group discussions where the members of a group should be from different cultural backgrounds (Wilson 1997). Besides, students should to be exposed to a variety of multicultural reading materials to foster cross-cultural understanding (Matt, 2013). Celebrating different cultural festivals also encourages multiculturalism in classrooms (Scott, 2000).
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Kinds of activities that can be provided for students in teaching multiculturalism
Various experiences can be useful when teaching multiculturalism some of which include making field trips so that students can witness diversity within different communities (Blake, 2015). Teachers can also organize for diversity dinner parties to enable students learn new cultures. Johanna (2012) also encourages the use of multicultural fairy tales in the classroom to show that people from different cultures have same feelings and emotions which shows that everyone is equal. Developing and supporting cultural education campaigns also helps in teaching students on multiculturalism (Blake, 2015).
Kinds of materials that should be used in classroom to bring a multicultural perspective
Multiculturalism has been encouraged by different authors in different books which students should read to strengthen diversity in classroom. Teachers are supposed to use reading materials that have characters from different races, nationalities and even cultural backgrounds (Johanna 2012). Such books help students to reflect upon similarities and differences that exist in their lives from the characters in the book.
References
Caitrin Blake (2015) Teaching Multicultural Literacy: Instruction Ideas for All Ages. Concordia University Press
E.K. Garcia (2013) Multicultural Education in Your Classroom. Hong Kong University Press.
Johanna Pentikainen (2012) Use of Literature in Developing Multicultural Sensitivity in Teacher Training. Elsevier publishers .
Hannah Scott (2000) Multiculturalism in the Classroom . Pembroke Publishers.
Heidi McIntyre (2014) Creating a Multicultural Environment in the Classroom. Greenwood Press.
H.W. Wilson (1997) Multiculturalism. Open Univ. Press.
Matt Davis (2013) Preparing for Cultural Diversity: Resources for Teachers . New York: Teachers College Press.
