Leadership for Learning

Standard 16: Learners experience curriculum and instruction that emphasize the value of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and abilities.  

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Self-Rating: 4

Diverse cultures are recognized and celebrated in both the elementary and high school classrooms. The students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, African American Month, and Women's Month. During November, students study Native American History. Many Hispanic holidays are researched and celebrated, such as Dia de Muertos. The elementary reading series MyView and the high school reading series My Perspectives offer students the opportunity to immerse themselves in other cultures through stories. Junior high students are required to take 10 credits of World Language courses where they learn about the culture and language of other countries.  In English, students research the heritage of their surname. This allows students to learn about their family background while learning about the diverse cultures that make up the student body. Students in family and consumer science classes connect food dishes to different cultures. Students learn about the country and research the ingredients of a dish. Students then create meals from the culture they have studied and share the dish with other students.

 

The instructional environment ensures active engagement of learners by encouraging students to participate in multicultural events. Since Chambers Public School does not have a diverse student population, teachers help students make connections with other cultures. They provide activities to link real-world experiences to their own lives. Teachers provide multicultural activities each month in their class instruction. Students use Scholastic News Activities World and Up Front in both the elementary and high school classrooms. Through these publications they learn vocabulary words and participate in activities that allow them to explore real-world issues.  

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Teachers use individualized instruction to meet the diverse abilities of students. Strategies such as flexible seating, fidgets, and graphic organizers are employed to ensure that all students' learning needs are met.