How teachers can manage diversity in the classroom

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South African teachers struggle with diversity as they implement methods and strategies to deliver the curriculum in a way that stimulates all the young minds in the classroom. From schools to workplaces, there are clear multifaceted benefits to fully engaging with diversity, appreciating it and drawing on systemic strengths.

How teachers can manage diversity in the classroom

The concept of neurodiversity encourages the recognition that cognitive differences should be understood and respected as acceptable human differences and not excluded from general school life and classroom participation. Neurological differences in the classroom may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum, among others. As a result, teachers may need to better manage students who experience specific learning disabilities and have difficulties with reading, writing, or math.

However, when it comes to the classroom, diversity is always inherent because children’s minds are growing and changing. They follow unique learning paths and develop different learning styles. When we organize classes into fixed age groups, students show significant variability in their abilities that affect reading, motor skills, mental processing, word retrieval, telling time, math, executive functioning, memory, reasoning, social skills, and more. Teachers are looking for classroom strategies that help students fully learn about the diversity of students while delivering curriculum.

This is the topic of an upcoming SACAP (South African College of Applied Psychology) webinar – Difference in class Saturday 23rd July 2022 9.00am to 10.30am. Free for teachers, SACAP’s professional panel explores the impact of diversity in the classroom and teachers’ roles in managing it. Natalie Donaldson, SACAP’s head of teaching and learning, said: “Over the past two decades, we have seen South Africa’s classrooms grow exponentially. This is not only about the cultural background of the students, but also about the ways in which they participate and learn. To ensure a quality learning experience for all, teachers must find ways to meet the unique needs of students in their classrooms.

The webinar includes a presentation by educational psychologist and SACAP teacher, Juan-Pierre Moller, that dives deep into the five domains of cognitive functioning and the different levels a teacher can encounter in a classroom. Juan-Pierre includes practical ways teachers can implement inclusive education in and outside of their classrooms. Other presenters included Kiara Parsuram, SACAP School Liaison Coordinator, and Dr. Diana De Sousa, Educational and Research Psychologist and Chair of SACAP’s Research and Ethics Committee.

Teachers are invited to join the conversation and discover new inclusive education strategies. Sign up for free here.

Sacap Webinar – Difference in class:

Date: Saturday, July 23, 2022
Time: 9:00 am to 10:30 am

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