Weekly learning journal-Week 5

Culture diversity will play a major role in my instructional plan. To me culture isn't just a list of holidays, religious traditions, or language; it is a lived experience unique to each individual. As educators, it's our job to stimulate the intellectual development of learners and use diversity to identify with world that each learner lives in. I believe that to truly engage students, we must reach out to them in ways that are culturally and linguistically responsive and appropriate, and we must examine the cultural assumptions and stereotypes we bring into the classroom that may hinder interconnectedness. To engage students effectively in the learning process, I must know the student and their academic abilities individually, rather than relying on racial or ethnic stereotypes or prior experience with other students of similar backgrounds. I will honor diversity in the classroom by respecting, appreciating, and accommodating the similarities and differences among the student’s culture. I will do this by reinforcing cross-culture understanding. Another thing I would do is build relationship with students. By understanding student lives outside of school, it would be easier to make learning practical and meaningful. I will incorporate critical thinking into my instructional experience by allowing my students to be creative and to inquire about topics that are of interest to them, by asking questions and providing a variety of resources for learners to find answers, and by encouraging collaborative work that sharing of ideas. As a result of this week work, the new insight that is emerging is the importance of diversity and impact it has on learning in our world today. The impact of culture on learning and behavior is natural and should be recognized through inclusion of appropriate activities and knowledge of a learner’s cultural background. Learning can be hindered if diversity is overlooked.