Classroom Culture // Teaching Strategies

Teaching strategies in Indonesia are not very different from teaching strategies in the states. That being said, teachers with Indonesian students in their classrooms should learn how to embrace diversity. 

"Adopting a truly global perspective allows us to view culturally and linguistically diverse students and their guardians as resources who provide unparalleled opportunities for enrichment." - Marietta Saravia-Shore

A few ways that a teacher can embrace diversity are by being culturally aware of both their own and their students' ethnic identities, communicating with students to be sure they believe in themselves, take note of your high expectations, and strive for success, and by using scaffolded teaching to connect culture and curriculum. 

Teachers of diverse classrooms should remember to:
- Keep standards high for every student, despite culture, ethnicity, or linguistics
- Remind students that you truly want the best for them by getting to know them personally
      - What are their individual needs? 
      - What are their gifts, passions, and dreams?
      - What are their worries and why?
- Seek out and cultivate an active role for parent and guardian involvement
- Be mindful when selecting curriculum
      - Is this curriculum relevant to my classroom?
      - Does it respect the cultures and ethnicities represented in my classroom?
      - How can I enhance this curriculum to acknowledge the work of other ethnic groups?
- Diminish and expose stereotypes
- Utilize the diversity in your classroom for projects and sharing; give students a platform

There are many more ways that teachers can teach students from different cultures and backgrounds, but ultimately a personal knowledge of your student and who they truly are is the basis of great teaching. 

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107003/chapters/Diverse-Teaching-Strategies-for-Diverse-Learners.aspx