Culturally Inclusive Classroom

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Australian classrooms are made up of students from a variety of countries, bringing with them different cultures, backgrounds, and language. Teachers need to be aware of the diversity of languages that children will bring into the classroom (Gardener, 2017c) and make the classroom culturally inclusive for all students. Aboriginal students speak English (Ewing, 2016). However, they also speak Aboriginal English which includes traditional Aboriginal words which are brought into the classroom. Williams (as cited in Woolfolk & Margetts, 2013, p. 51) points out the Aboriginal English can vary across Australia states, therefore, there is no one language amongst Aboriginal people. Harrison and Sellwood (2011) explain that each variety of Aboriginal English has different meanings for words, grammatical rules, and …show more content…

To achieve a culturally inclusive classroom, teachers must look into the backgrounds of their students and educate themselves any language differences. Woolfolk and Margetts (2011) assert the point that teachers must not have any prejudice towards students, they must accept their traditional language and find a balance between their first language and Australian English. Ewing (2016) suggests that incorporating a culturally inclusive pedagogy is crucial to honour classroom diversity and this can be achieved through text. By choosing books that share historical Aboriginal stories not only embraces their cultural background, but it also provides knowledge to all children about “Australia’s rich linguistic” history (Ewing, 2016, p. 84).

Children use language from an early age and they

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] strongly express that the needs of all students are equally important regardless of their background and the importance of changing lesson plans to suit the needs of every student in their classroom. Green and Campbell (2006)

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