Self Study And Diversity

This book is about the self-study of teacher education practices at a time when inclusion and diversity are being questioned. Authors of various backgrounds and identities draw on their own experiences to examine the challenges of preparing teachers.

Self-study and Diversity is a book about self-study of teaching and teacher education with equity and access as focal issues of practice. Chapters in this book have a shared orientation to diversity grounded in the acknowledgement that educators have a responsibility to address equity and access issues inherent in teaching. To that end, individual chapters address such areas of diversity as race, ethnicity, gender, disability, and power, as well as broader areas of social justice, multiculturalism, and ways of knowing. Even though the focus in a chapter may be on one particular dimension of diversity, the dilemmas and responses of a teacher educator, elicited through self-study, can apply well beyond that immediate context. This broadens the appeal of the book beyond the self-study community and beyond specific issues of diversity, to people interested in teaching in general and in the process of improving practice. An additional strength of this book is the inclusion in each chapter of information regarding the use of particular strategies, both for self-study and for teaching for diversity. A separate index of these suggested research and teaching practices will direct the reader to specific chapters.

Self-Study and Diversity II is a book about the self-study of teacher education practices in a diverse world. In this volume, the authors examine the preparation of teachers through a shared orientation to diversity grounded in a commitment to addressing issues of identity, equity, diversity, social justice, inclusion, and access in their professional practice. The first chapters are autobiographical studies in which teacher educators reflect on how their personal identities as minorities within a historically oppressive culture inform their professional practice. These powerful narratives are followed by accounts of teacher educators addressing diversity issues in the United Arab Emirates, India, South Africa, and Thailand. The closing chapters attend to the challenges of preparing teacher candidates to become inclusive educators in a diverse world. Even though each chapter focusses on a particular dimension of equity and social justice or dilemma of practice, the insights in these self-studies are relevant to all teacher educators interested in improving teacher education by respecting diversity and becoming more inclusive. Particular strengths are the diversity of authors and international scope of the book.

Educators have a responsibility to address equity and access issues inherent in teaching. To that end, individual chapters address such areas of diversity as race, ethnicity, gender, disability, and power, as well as broader areas of social justice, multiculturalism, and ways of knowing. (Education/Teaching)

Recognizing that teachers are human beings who bring their own experiences regarding race, language, gender, socioeconomic status, family structure, sexual orientation, political ideology, and more to the classroom, Exploring Diversity in Education challenges future educators to look inward and engage in self-reflection to better understand their own personal beliefs and identities. Equipped with this information, readers can begin to locate their blind spots and biases, nuances that can affect their teaching and interactions with students. The text helps readers develop greater cultural and self-awareness so they can competently work in schools and communities with evolving demographics. The text is divided into 10 chapters, which feature an introduction, an engaging reading on a specific topic, and For Your Consideration section that provides readers with thought-provoking questions and reflection opportunities. Opening chapters discuss how knowing oneself can help them know others, the dynamics of privilege, the impact of poverty on learning and education, and religious diversity in schools. Additional readings address linguistically diverse learning, policies and practices that impact immigrant students, and issues related to gender and racial hierarchy. The final chapters explore what multicultural education looks like in action and the importance of incorporating social justice in curriculum. Designed to prepare the teachers of today and tomorrow connect in meaningful ways with their students, Exploring Diversity in Education is an essential text for courses and programs in teacher education.

This is a book designed with the teacher educator in mind. It provides in depth examination of specific methods used effectively in self-study research. The chapters are written by researchers engaged in self-study of their practice.

The author of this new text, Benedicta Egbo, has taken great care to maintain a critical balance between theory and practice. Consequently, the book provides teachers a substantive repertoire of practical examples, strategies and vignettes in accessible language, to facilitate the process of teaching for diversity and equity KEY TOPICS: Education and Diversity: Framing the Issues;Policy, Social and Global Trends Affecting Canadian Diversity and Education;Socio-demographic Factors, Diversity and Schooling;Language Diversity and Schooling;Transformative Frameworks for Promoting Diversity;Initiating Praxis: Knowing Self, Students, and Communities;Beyond Differences: Building Bridges and Creating a Community of Learners;Policy and Training Issues;Moving Forward: Re-envisioning Education and Diversity MARKET: Appropriate for Early Childhood Education Courses.

In Teaching to Diversity, Dr. Jennifer Katz synthesizes the research, and 16 years experience of teaching in inclusive classrooms and schools, to provide answers to several questions: How do I make inclusion work for ALL students? What are the foundational best practices of a truly inclusive learning community? How does one create such a community? The author pulls together, in an organized way, a three-block model of universal design for learning (UDL) and suggests a step-by-step approach for implementing it. This framework includes: Block One, Social and Emotional Learning: details ways to build compassionate learning communities (K–12) in which all students feel safe and valued, and develop a positive self-concept, sense of belonging, and respect for diverse others. Block Two, Inclusive Instructional Practice: includes a framework for planning units from K–12, and explains instructional and management practices for teaching, assessing, grading, and reporting in UDL Classrooms. Block Three, Systems and Structures: suggests strategies for creating inclusive learning communities, and explores ways in which resource teachers, student services personnel, and school administrators can support and create socially and academically inclusive schools and classrooms. The three-block model of UDL can empower educators with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to teach diverse learners in the same classroom—including those who have previously been excluded. Ultimately, it is about creating classrooms and schools that heal by teaching to the heart, mind, and spirit of every student.