Student Diversity

Field ProjectADMS 633

Fadiah AlraiesSolitia Wilson Emily Kennedy

Diversity is…• As defined by the National Education

Association it is “the sum of the ways that people are both alike and different.”

• The various aspects include:• Race -religion• Class -mental abilities• Ethnicity -physical abilities• Gender -immigration status• Sexual orientation - language• Culture

Who did we ask about student diversity?

• Administrators, teachers and staff in Richmond City, Hanover County and Henrico County

• The interviewees include:• Principals• Special Education teachers• ESL teachers• Head Start teachers• General Education teachers• Paraprofessionals• Resource teachers

“Student diversity is defined not only

by race but by disability.”

“Student diversity is differences between students and teachers.”

“We are diverse in our cultural backgrounds, with students who

speak over 20 different languages. We are also diverse in our abilities

and family situations-- both economic and personal.”

“Diversity reflects gender, race, socio-economic

status, regional culture within a race, religion,

sexual preference, marital status and so many other aspects of who we are as

people.”

“Students are diverse in many ways – skill levels, learning abilities, how they learn, and life outside of school (family, socioeconomic status)”

Richmond CityThe school that was interviewed has…

• Grades K-5 • 206 students• 50 faculty and staff• 18:1 ratio • a Title I program• a K-5 Spanish program

Student Ethnicity• 82% Black• 13% White• 3% Hispanic• 2 Asian students

It is a fully accredited school!

Henrico CountySchool 1

The school that was interviewed has…

• Grades Pre K – 5th • 505 students• 3 full time ESL teachers and a full time

assistant • a Title I program

Student Ethnicity• 211 ESL Students• 34 Identified in Special Education• 14% Asian• 18% Black• 26% Hispanic• 5% Others• 39% White

71% of students are free or reduced lunch

School 2

The school that was interviewed has…

• Grades Pre K – 5 • 433 students

Student Ethnicity• 23% Asian• 21% Black• 13% Hispanic• 5% Others• 6% disabilities

46% of students are free or reduced lunch

Hanover CountyThe school that was interviewed has…• Grades Pre K – 2nd • 304 students• 56 faculty and staff• 19:1 ratio • a Title I program

Student Ethnicity• 49% Black• 43% White• 8% Hispanic• 5 Asian students

49% of students are free or reduced lunch

Diversity in the Curriculum

Richmond City •schedules a specific culture for classroom and encore•teachers to incorporate into activities and lessons

Henrico County- School 1•follows the WIDA Standards for ESL curriculum , as well as teaching across curricular concepts in the areas of reading, speaking, writing and listening.•PRIME, Second Helping and Title I

Henrico County- School 2•differentiation within curriculum was not evident

Hanover County•pull out ESL services are provided to students

Strategies that Support Diversity“it’s not about supporting diversity, it is about supporting the

children-- all children that we teach”

Richmond City•has welcome signs that represent various cultures. •offer school information in Spanish.

Henrico County- School 1 •works hard to communicate with the ESL population by providing translators, translated notes, workshops for parents and accommodations for students in the classroom.

Henrico County- School 2•provides programs to educate diverse families, opportunities for families to understand the English language.

Hanover County •accommodates for one language barrier when sending home school-wide newsletters and general information.

In Closing…

• Diversity is addressed on a school by school basis.

• Students should drive the need for differentiation and diversity in the curriculum and what strategies are necessary.

“it should be genuine-- we should

avoid coming off as patronizing”