Diversity in the Early Childhood Classroom
Diversity in the Early Childhood Classroom
Diversity encompasses all of the differences that people possess as humans. It includes differences in race, language, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, exceptionalities, and geographical placement. Diversity consists of a quality that make individuals dissimilar and that brings to the classroom individuals existence experiences, abilities, talents, character traits, and preferences that enhance individuals being (Pearson, 2000). Children’s individual interests and capabilities, racial and cultural differences, age and gender difference and language differences play a part in classroom diversity. Diversity should be taught starting in the Early Childhood classrooms.
The concept of diversity of the early childhood classroom includes the perspectives of multiculturalism and non sexist and antibias education. The classroom differences can also include the social realities that affect children and communities, including availability of economic resources, access to technology, and health and safety concerns. Another full and active participate in diversity are children with disabilities. In a number of the school settings today you can find a growing number of special needs children. These children have disabilities ranging from hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, speech and language difficulties, blindness, deafness, mental retardation, and physical impairments. The Americans with Disabilities Act has better equipped society to meet the needs and challenges of special needs children, yet many teachers have little to no special training to deal with these students. The challenge of implementing training and proper classroom settings for special needs students falls on the fact that the school administrators and teachers encounter financial, cultural, and social obstacles. The many different problems that fall underneath the diversity category are growing each year and are becoming a
Diversity encompasses all of the differences that people possess as humans. It includes differences in race, language, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, exceptionalities, and geographical placement. Diversity consists of a quality that make individuals dissimilar and that brings to the classroom individuals existence experiences, abilities, talents, character traits, and preferences that enhance individuals being (Pearson, 2000). Children’s individual interests and capabilities, racial and cultural differences, age and gender difference and language differences play a part in classroom diversity. Diversity should be taught starting in the Early Childhood classrooms.
The concept of diversity of the early childhood classroom includes the perspectives of multiculturalism and non sexist and antibias education. The classroom differences can also include the social realities that affect children and communities, including availability of economic resources, access to technology, and health and safety concerns. Another full and active participate in diversity are children with disabilities. In a number of the school settings today you can find a growing number of special needs children. These children have disabilities ranging from hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, speech and language difficulties, blindness, deafness, mental retardation, and physical impairments. The Americans with Disabilities Act has better equipped society to meet the needs and challenges of special needs children, yet many teachers have little to no special training to deal with these students. The challenge of implementing training and proper classroom settings for special needs students falls on the fact that the school administrators and teachers encounter financial, cultural, and social obstacles. The many different problems that fall underneath the diversity category are growing each year and are becoming a
References: Faber, A., & Mazlish, E. (1999). How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Greenberg, P. (Ed.). (2002, October). Bringing Home Into The Classroom. Retrieved from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3746853 Kupetz, B., Ed. D. (2008). Do You See What I See? Appreciating Diversity in Early Childhood Settings Williams, D. (1972). The Preschool Years, Ages 2-5. In Beyond the Golden Rule (pp