7 Ways to Support Diversity in the Classroom [With Examples]
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- A quick definition of what diversity in the classroom means for your school
- Why diversity in the classroom setting is important
- 7 ways to promote diversity in your school and community
What is diversity in the classroom?

Why is diversity in the classroom important?
If you ignore the issue of diversity in the classroom and choose to not promote diversity in your school, you’re not doing your job. Children go to school to be prepared for the workforce, so teaching must effectively address and embrace the realities that come with living and working in a diverse school, community and country. Not only that, but there are other research-backed reasons for promoting diversity in the classroom:Diversity in the classroom builds better thinkers

“Decades of research by organizational scientists, psychologists, sociologists, economists and demographers show that socially diverse groups (that is, those with a diversity of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation) are more innovative than homogeneous groups.”The same article goes on to point out that even the appearance of diversity (and with it, the suggestion that different opinions exist) makes us change how we approach issues. Students are no exception to this rule. Diversity in the classroom teaches students to appreciate different perspectives and draw stronger conclusions. Challenging students to consider different perspectives can also teach them how to interact with their peers on a social level, and equip them with skills they’ll use for the rest of their life.
It improves academic outcomes

It involves more students
According to OISE professor Ann Lopez, diversity can “disrupt narratives and stereotypes in the classroom that position diverse people as lacking in valuable knowledge or unqualified.”When schools take inclusive and responsive approaches to diversity, students are more likely to see their identify represented in classroom materials or other students. When diversity is not a priority and these students don’t feel included, they’re more likely to not participate and feel inferior to their peers. A study from the University of California, Los Angeles looked at diverse classrooms to assess the emotional gains of students, and found encouraging results. According to the study, students in the most diverse classrooms were more likely to feel safer, less lonely and less bullied at school.We commend this California high school instructor for encouraging essential #21stcenturyskills, such as communication and social/diversity awareness, through collaboration in the classroom. https://t.co/fnxu1AScJG https://t.co/fnxu1AScJG
— Elizabeth Woods (@woods_spunky) April 1, 2019
7 ways to encourage a culture of diversity in your school
Alright. So diversity is important to cultivate in your classroom because of the academic and social benefits. That’s a great thing to know, but what does diversity in the classroom look like in action? And how can you promote it in your school?Good news: there are lots of different ways!1. Examine your teaching materials
Which voices are speaking in your classroom?That is, whose stories do you tell? Especially in the humanities and social sciences, teaching materials can often be limited to Western, white, male and middle-class narratives. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bue7_t5hAdu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Work with your teachers to see if you’re representing a wide range of voices in the curriculum. If possible, teach literature from authors of color. Examine historical narratives to see which voices are missing — for example, a discussion about the civil rights movement can examine how it intersects with gender equality, immigration and the stories of Latino, Hispanic and Native American peoples. Richard Messina, principal of OISE’s Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, defines this practice as “idea diversity:”“To understand an idea is to understand the ideas that surround it, including those that stand in contrast to it. Idea diversity creates a rich environment for ideas to evolve into new and more refined forms. This pedagogical approach may help students to appreciate and value all forms of diversity and how diversity enriches learning.”This is exactly what Citizens of the World Charter Schools in California is doing through a focus on a project-based, culturally-responsive and data-driven learning model.Some of the projects they’re working on to promote diversity in the classroom include:
- A first-grade rally to end homelessness: To learn about homelessness and civic engagement, students write letters to the mayor and use their creative skills to produce awareness materials like posters and songs.
- Second language practice in second grade: Students who speak Spanish at home help teach their classmates and teachers how to pronounce and translate a Spanish song.
- Fourth-grade history: While learning about the gold rush, students write diaries from a wide range of historical actors like mine workers and owners, but also from the perspective of women and immigrants that worked alongside them.
2. Get to know your students

- Schedule time out of your day to visit classrooms or walk through the halls. Let students know that they can approach you with problems (or just to say hello), and then follow through on what they come to you with.
- Communicate your vision and goals for the school to your teachers. Encourage them to come to you with any questions or concerns, and work with them to promote diversity in the classroom.
- Show some school spirit. Participate in school events and visit different clubs or after-school activities. If students see that you’re invested in school culture, they’ll be more likely to also participate.
3. Be willing to address inequality
Part of supporting diversity in the classroom is creating a space for students and educators to talk about how issues of discrimination affect them on a personal, classroom- and school-wide level.The more diversity is a topic of discussion in your school, the less students and teachers will hesitate to address it. As a school leader, you’re in a position to lead the conversation and inspire others in the school to follow. This conversation shouldn’t just be limited to words — in order to make effective change, you need to take practical steps to address inequality when you encounter it, such as:- Shut down discrimination whenever you hear it
- Use language that promotes positivity and doesn’t reinforce existing stereotypes (for example, the phrase “boys will be boys” shouldn’t be used to justify sexism or aggression)
- Respond effectively to inappropriate comments or actions. Take infractions seriously and inform parents when necessary
- Encourage students to include all of their peers if you see division forming along racial or economic lines.
- Remove existing markers of inequality in your school. (For example, make sure students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs aren’t singled out and made to feel different.)
4. Connect with parents and community
Schools are a central part of the community, and should reflect and celebrate its diversity. Communicate your goals for diversity in the classroom to parents. Ask if they have any questions or concerns, and then listen. Invite them to identify areas in the curriculum or in the school culture that they feel could benefit from more of a focus on diversity. Reach out to leaders in the community that can offer different perspectives, either as experts in their field, professionals, community workers or activists. Consider asking teachers to develop service learning projects that connect classroom learning with community initiatives.
- Host a community food drive. Ask students, parents and neighbours to bring in non-perishable food items to donate to the local food bank
- Start a paper or email newsletter to communicate school news and events to parents
- Host a parent night as an opportunity to outline any curriculum additions or special events the school is having to promote diversity
5. Meet diverse learning needs

- Introduce adaptive technologies. Adaptive technologies give students with physical or learning disabilities the support they need to enter the lesson alongside their peers. This can include anything from speech-to-text software, talking calculators for students with dyscalculia, or modified computer accessories for students with physical disabilities.
- Encourage teachers to use different teaching strategies. Techniques like project-based learning, differentiated instruction and blended learning all allow teachers to help learners with different needs. (For even more ideas about classroom teaching strategies, read our Ultimate List of Teaching Strategies!)
- Make sure all students are participating in the classroom discussion and activities. It’s sometimes difficult to tell if one group is participating more or less, so encourage teachers to track class participation and adjust as necessary.
6. Hire diversely

- Establish programs at the district level that recruit teachers from non-traditional programs and provide financial help and training.
- Improve the data systems that monitor diverse hiring efforts, and reward schools that meet diversity requirements.
- Hire earlier in the year to reach more in-demand candidates
- Support principal preparation programs, including actively recruiting teachers and supporting their professional development
7. Support professional development opportunities

- Beyond Heroes and Holidays: This resource is for teachers, school leaders, students and parents alike. It provides a model for building a culturally responsive curriculum and includes in-service activities, strategies for teaching and offers an analysis of racial inequality in the current school system.
- The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning is an organization that offers professional development opportunities for schools, businesses and the general public on becoming culturally responsive, “moving below the superficial focus on culture.” They offer half to multi-day workshops, as well as coaching and online courses.
- Teaching Tolerance is an organization that helps “teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy.” The program emphasizes social justice and anti-bias, and offers workshops in a number of major cities as well as free online resources. They also have a team of professional development trainers available to run sessions at the school or district level.
Downloadable list of strategies for diversity in the classroom
Fill out the form below to download and print a simplified list of the ways you can promote diversity in your school to keep at your desk!Final thoughts: Diversity in the classroom
Diversity expresses itself in so many different ways, so it can be daunting to try and start conversations around bringing it to the classroom.The good news? Your school is already full of students and staff with diverse and amazing backgrounds, abilities and skills! All you have to do is start highlighting that diversity. Start slowly and intentionally. Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know the answer, but always try to keep learning and growing. Listen to what others around you are saying, and look for feedback and ways to continuously improve. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but the most important step is getting started.Create or log in to your school leader account on Prodigy – a free, game-based learning platform for math that’s easy to use for educators and students alike. Aligned with curricula across the English-speaking world, it’s loved by more than a million teachers and 50 million students.
