Variety, according to Merriam-Websters Dictionary, is the condition of having or being composed of varying components, particularly the inclusion of people of different races, cultures, etc in a group or organization.

Throughout my profession, I have taught a variety of grades from 1st grade to 6th grade ELA in a host of states and school districts. Presently, I am the Gifted and Talented Specialist for River Trail Elementary in Upstate South Carolina. In this function, Ive taken a fresh appearance at how I am assisting to highlight the power of diversity in the class and construct a more inclusive learning environment– particularly in the STEM fields– in which all students can see themselves as they get ready for life beyond graduation.

As a teacher, with over 17 years of experience, Ive heard the word variety used in numerous contexts throughout my career. However, over the last 16 months or two, the value of variety– and particularly inclusion– has been highlighted to Americans throughout the country, in extremely noticeable, and in some cases upsetting ways.

Over the last few months, Ive connected with associates from my past to collect actionable strategies teachers can utilize to support greater diversity in the classroom and in their lessons, together with more inclusive learning environments. Here are a few of the finest methods Ive collected:

Joanna Barney, Gifted and Talented Specialist, Fort Mill School Districts River Trail Elementary SchoolJoanna Barney is a Gifted and Talented Specialist at Fort Mill School Districts River Trail Elementary School and a member of the Discovery Educator Network. She serves GT Identified trainees in grades 3rd to fifth. She likewise functions as a STEM Leader for her designated school area. You can reach her at barneyj@fortmillschools.org

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Empower trainees to guide the discussion with vibrant digital material: Like many teachers, I am paid for access to numerous resources. My first option, when choosing content, is the Discovery Education platform, which was just recently updated with a host of terrific brand-new features. Fort Mill Schools, the district I currently operate in, has a close relationship with Discovery Education (DE) and the lots of products they have available.

Joanna Barney, Gifted and Talented Specialist, Fort Mill School Districts River Trail Elementary SchoolJoanna Barney is a Gifted and Talented Specialist at Fort Mill School Districts River Trail Elementary School and a member of the Discovery Educator Network.

Throughout my career, I have actually taught a range of grades from 1st grade to 6th grade ELA in a host of states and school districts. In this role, Ive taken a fresh appearance at how I am assisting to highlight the power of diversity in the classroom and develop a more inclusive learning environment– especially in the STEM fields– in which all learners can see themselves as they prepare for life beyond graduation.