Module 2 Diversity

Wow, what a week it was in Educational Psychology!! We covered quite a bit of material. While it was all relevant to the main topic of education, the lessons and reading that I paid close attention to were:
In Chapter 4, I was concerned about subjects that focused on students with learning challenges. Although I have observed Special Education classes, I know there is no comparison to being a teacher in this field. Learning problems are researched in neuroscience. They are able to determine that the brains of students with learning disabilities show differences when compared with students with normal brain activity. Brain injury and disease can also lead to learning disorders. No student learns the same way. One of the problems that students can encounter is with reading. Indicators that teachers may follow to recognize student's problems are:
Anxiety around reading, difficulty recognizing words or letters, poor vocabulary skills, and difficulty with understanding or remembering what was read. (p. 137)
As a future teacher, I know the importance of being aware of the individual needs of my students. It is imperative to pay close attention and be mindful. Communication is a good way to sense each student and then assess their needs and what they are capable of. There are various types of issues to consider. Patience and strength are 2 attributes that I want to exhibit when I become a teacher. Students need to be able to rely on me as a teacher who will display leadership.
I am in favor of  inclusion which was also discussed in this chapter. Inclusion is the integration of all students, including those with severe disabilities, into regular classes. (p. 132) It is interesting to me that humans have the capacity to learn in even the most severe situations. I think it was a good decision to include all students despite any type of disabilities. This chapter also focused on autism Asperger's, ADHD, and other types of learning disorders. It is vital to not only know about these disorders but know how to work with any student that is in the classroom. Even using appropriate labels to describe  is an important detail to remember.

Chapter 5 dealt specifically with language development, diversity and immigrant education. Once again the topic of labels and differences was discussed. We live in a global society in America. It is definitely a melting pot. This is such a wonderful advantage for teachers and students. No longer will we only think and learn on a local level, we will learn about other cultures and customs from many placed in the world. Immigrants, people who voluntarily leave their country to become permanent residents in a new place, comprise 12% of the people born in another country. (p. 185)
When I become a teacher, I will encourage my students to study other languages besides English. I like the idea of introducing new words to one's vocabulary. A teachable moment could be students learning new words from other languages. Along with language, there are also customs that can be shown and lessons that could be developed from learning about a classmate's native land. 
We have so much to learn as students, teachers, administrators or anyone who is in support of continued learning. I look forward to teaching and learning in a diverse environment.