This is a selection of activities from the Ministry of Education publication Defining Diversity: A Facilitation Manual to use with New to New Zealand (2008). The activities are designed to assist Boards of Trustees, senior management, teachers, and parents to deepen their understanding of cultural diversity and encourage the development of culturally appropriate responses.
Teaching in a way that is responsive to the diversity in our classrooms has the most profound effect on our learners.
The development of strong school–whānau relationships, culturally responsive classrooms, and the deliberate use of effective teaching strategies can help the diverse learners in your classroom.
Explore ways to include and understand refugee learners with an acknowledgment of their past experiences as well as their need to engage with the classroom programme.
Responding to the needs and strengths of all students, is one of the foundations of an inclusive classroom. The successful participation of special needs learners in ESOL tasks across the curriculum, involves a team response to individual needs – and participating at a suitable level often means academic success.
Mastery of literacy in a second language is supported by literacy in the student's first language. Language knowledge in one language can serve as the foundation for a new language. Dual language books, high interest readers, and in class or withdrawal remediation, can all add to success for literacy learning for ELLs.
