Commitment to Diversity
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. “ Education can also be used to break the barriers of prejudice, bias, and discrimination. Despite the differences in disability, sexuality, race, gender, and ethnicity, students will be treated with the same equity and fairness. In my classroom, I believe in creating a balance between self-awareness and acceptance. I will provide multiple methods of differentiated instruction in the classroom curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of all learners. For students that have a disability, I plan to review his or her IEP in conjunction with establishing accommodations to meet individual needs. Overall, in a diverse classroom, students should feel a sense of inclusion and equity between peers, teachers, and staff. It is my commitment to embrace and encourage diversity by meeting the needs of all students and providing all students equal, educational opportunities.
​
In one of my educational courses, I had to create a lesson plan that focused on diversity, as well as my content. The students were reading a trade book, “Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History.” Therefore, I decided to create my diversity lesson based upon this book. The book focused on molecules that impacted history, such as using ascorbic acid to treat scurvy. Also, the book included historical events, demographics, and traditions of specific countries. For the lesson, one of the activities focused on diversity throughout the world. In groups, the students had to create a voyage and include the following elements: name of voyage, voyage destination, characteristics of the destination, at least two molecules that are beneficial for the voyage, structures of each molecule, and the cost of the voyage. The students transformed their written voyage into a drawing and presented it to the class. At the end of the lesson, students were aware of the different cultural traditions and historical events among various countries, as well as the impact of specific molecules in these areas.
​
The following lessons include artifacts that display how I have differentiated instruction for multiple learners: