Standard #2:

Learning
Differences
By: London Bondurant
EDUC 255
Instructor: Julie Bilz

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bd/55/b5/bd55b55fd5e771aac4113ce8b622c306.jpg)

What is Standard #2?

O The teacher uses understanding of

individual differences and diverse

cultures and communities to ensure
inclusive learning environments that
enable each learner to meet high
standards.

(Gollnick, 2013)

What does this standard

mean?
O This standard explains that in order for

each learner to meet high standards,

teachers must first understand each
students individual differences.
O If the teacher understands the students

individual differences and understands

diverse cultures and communities, the
teacher will be better able to create an
inclusive learning environment.

What is
inclusive?
According to

Dictionary.com, inclusive
means including or
encompassing the stated
limit or extremes in
consideration or
account.
An inclusive classroom is
filled with students of
various individual
differences, including
those with special needs.

(Google Images)

Synonyms for
inclusion
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o

incorporati
on

n
o
i
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i
s
o
p
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admitt
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encompassme
nt

embracement
(www.dictionary.com)

emb
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Why Inclusion?
O Inclusion can be very beneficial to students who are part of a minority.
O Inclusion allows students of minority status to feel normal.
O Inclusion can boost a learners mental attitude and confidence, whether

he or she is part of a minority ethnicity, has a learning disability, etc.

O A culturally responsive curriculum is both inclusive in that it ensures

that all students are included within all aspects of the school and it
acknowledges the unique differences students may possess.
(Parsons, 2014)
O Allowing these diverse students to be included in a regular classroom

will also allow the other students to get to know them and to learn
something that is very important

Acceptance!

(Google Images)

Individual differences in
students can be based on
O Gender

O Sexual Orientation

O Ethnicity

O Geography

O Age

O Religion

O Language

O Socioeconomic

Status

O Abilities

(Gollnick,
2013)

Individual Differences in Students

O All individual differences contribute

to the diversity of the classroom.

O All of these differences help define

each individuals personal culture.

O Just because someone is of the same

ethnic group as you does not mean

you are going to completely relate
culturally.

Example:
O Two students in your classroom are of the

same race.
O Definition of race: a group of persons
related by common descent or heredity.
O These two students still have cultural
identities very different from the other.
But why?
O One is a boy, one is a girl. One grew up in
the United States, one grew up in Europe.
One comes from a wealthy family, the
other is from a low-income family.
O What does this mean? Even within certain
groups there is diversity.

Diverse Cultures &

Communities
O Some examples of cultures and

communities that have diversity include:

O Workplaces
O Entire schools
O Individual classrooms
O Sports teams
O Neighborhoods
O Families

O It is very important for teachers to understand

diversity.
O In order to do this, teachers must get to know his or

her students on a more personal level.

O Knowing things such as what a students home life is

like, what their first language is, and the traditions

they practice are important to getting to know them
and getting them to succeed in the classroom.

O Each of us belongs to

multiple cultures that help

define us. (Gollnick, 2013)
O Diversity is found

everywhere, and does not

have to be related to just
race or ethnicity.
O Teachers should try to

understand the diverse

culture of their classroom
to enable each learner to
meet high standards.

Determining High Standards

O The point of inclusion is to ensure

that each student has the same

opportunities in the classroom.
O This means that teachers should set

high standards for everyone,

including those of minority groups.

O Example: ESL students may struggle more in class

due to the class being taught in English. The

teacher should still strive to get this student to
meet the standards that the rest of the class
meets. They will not benefit from getting treated
any different. Although this is true, the teacher
must give the student praise that is proportional to
what he or she has accomplished. (Parsons, 2014)

I hope you enjoyed my presentation. Below is

the link to a YouTube video about diversity that
I really enjoyed. It was created by Ilias Feizidis
and published on September 24, 2013.
Enjoy!

O Diversity Video

Reference List
O Parsons, K. (2014). 6 Ways Teachers

can Foster Cultural Awareness in the

Classroom. Retrieved September 30,
2015.
O Gollnick, D., & Chinn, P. (2013).

Multicultural Education in a
Pluralistic Society (9th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.