Creating Books To Promote Diversity and Multiculturalism

Join ASWIFTT RADIO Host Brenda Diann Johnson on May 22, 2021 at 1 pm CST, 2 pm EST and 11 am PST on the show “Creating Books To Promote Diversity and Multiculturalism.” Her guest will be Ashley Charleston who is the author of “Nyasia’s Bee-utiful Discovery.” The discussion will highlight the need for diverse books when teaching our kids in schools today. Students of various backgrounds should receive a quality education while identifying with the content presented in the classroom.

     Diversity and Multiculturalism is essential when it comes to educating our kids. When teachers enter the classroom at the beginning of a new year they are faced with providing a curriculum that offers equality for all students. According to the Declaration of Independence all men are created equal and they should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Throughout the nation’s history since 1776, marginalized and excluded groups such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and other cultural and ethnic groups have used this idea to justify and defend the extension of human rights to them and to end institutional discrimination, such as sexism, racism, and discrimination against people with disabilities. (Branch, 2006).

     When teachers get to know their students at the beginning of the year they can effectively create curriculums that incorporate multicultural education. However, according to Banks, establishing a multicultural education curriculum is not enough to achieve multicultural education in the classroom. He further states “Multicultural education is also a reform movement designed to bring about a transformation of the school so that students from both genders and from diverse cultural, language, and ethnic groups will have an equal chance to experience school success.” (Banks, 2013)

Teachers should always create curriculums and lesson plans that match the demographics of their classrooms. Creating curriculums and lessons plans that match the demographics of a classroom starts with content integration. Content integration is where teachers start when gathering the material they want to teach. In this stage teachers must be careful to find material from all cultures to make up the material content for their lesson. They should also have visual examples from various cultures. Having examples from various cultures will play a key part with visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners.

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Creating Books To Promote Diversity and Multiculturalism

Join ASWIFTT RADIO Host Brenda Diann Johnson on May 22, 2021 at 1 pm CST, 2 pm EST and 11 am PST on the show “Creating Books To Promote Diversity and Multiculturalism.” Her guest will be Ashley Charleston who is the author of “Nyasia’s Bee-utiful Discovery.” The discussion will highlight the need for diverse books when teaching our kids in schools today. Students of various backgrounds should receive a quality education while identifying with the content presented in the classroom.

     Diversity and Multiculturalism is essential when it comes to educating our kids. When teachers enter the classroom at the beginning of a new year they are faced with providing a curriculum that offers equality for all students. According to the Declaration of Independence all men are created equal and they should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Throughout the nation’s history since 1776, marginalized and excluded groups such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and other cultural and ethnic groups have used this idea to justify and defend the extension of human rights to them and to end institutional discrimination, such as sexism, racism, and discrimination against people with disabilities. (Branch, 2006).

     When teachers get to know their students at the beginning of the year they can effectively create curriculums that incorporate multicultural education. However, according to Banks, establishing a multicultural education curriculum is not enough to achieve multicultural education in the classroom. He further states “Multicultural education is also a reform movement designed to bring about a transformation of the school so that students from both genders and from diverse cultural, language, and ethnic groups will have an equal chance to experience school success.” (Banks, 2013)

Teachers should always create curriculums and lesson plans that match the demographics of their classrooms. Creating curriculums and lessons plans that match the demographics of a classroom starts with content integration. Content integration is where teachers start when gathering the material they want to teach. In this stage teachers must be careful to find material from all cultures to make up the material content for their lesson. They should also have visual examples from various cultures. Having examples from various cultures will play a key part with visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners.

“Make a Difference……Teach?”

Foreword on page vii

The Young Scholar’s Workbook:

Book I Vol. I  by

Brenda Padgitt

When I read the motto, “Make a Difference…Teach?”  I immediately see a question proposed by the motto.  When I look at the motto more closely, I notice that it is two-fold.  It makes a bold statement to make a difference and it proposes a question to the reader. 

     First, the motto is meant to encourage and boldly challenge the reader to make a difference in the world.  Second, the motto proposes the question, Teach?  Is teaching the answer to making a difference in the world?

    I believe the statement and question proposed in the motto is thought provoking.  In fact, in order to make a difference in the world, we must continue to educate.  We specifically need to educate those who have influence and those who will have influence on how our nation operates. 

     Those who have influence on our nation today are our federal, state, and city leaders.  These leaders run our nation.  They have been trained and educated by teachers in the past to help validate their job credentials. 

     We rely on our leaders to do a good job and to be knowledgeable in making the right decisions for the country as a whole. 

     It is in the best interest of the nation for our leaders to continue educating themselves throughout their careers.  Many enroll in continuing education courses to gain new knowledge and to stay up to date on current issues.  Some leaders rely on advisors to help them stay abreast on current issues and new information. 

     In our formal educational institutions teachers will always play a role in educating those who lead our nation.  Informal education is also a benefit.  Leaders must do their own research and personal study to make educated decisions when it comes to our nation.                      

    Teachers help shape our nation by educating and preparing our children for the future.  Our children are educated in our public and private school systems.  They will also be educated in our formal educational institutions beyond high school. 

     In order for our children to make a difference in our nation, they need to be educated and prepared by individuals, who will boldly accept the challenge. 

     Teachers are responsible for staying up to date in subjects like Science and Technology, History, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Language Arts, and other subjects as well.  Knowledge imparted to children through good teachers will have a positive and powerful impact on our nation in the future. 

    Teachers not only play a role in formally educating our children but they also educate our children informally.  Teachers have a lot to do with shaping our children’s attitudes and beliefs about our nation and the society we live in.  From Pre-K through college, attitudes and beliefs are being shaped. 

     Teachers educate and train children about our nation’s past mistakes, present, and mistakes that will be made if the same actions are repeated.  Teachers help children analyze and think through problems.  They also help encourage children to come up with solutions to problems.  Teachers are valuable to our nation.  It is because of teachers that our children will know how to fully play out their future roles in society.

     For more information on Brenda, her books, writing classes and services visit: www.brendapadgitt.com