Within my role as a teacher at an international school, I have always had a diverse student population, with children from over 15 different nations. This has allowed me to incorporate a cultural competency approach into my teaching methods daily.
I've found that infusing culturally inclusive materials into the curriculum, like reading materials from various cultures, helps students understand and appreciate differences. For instance, I introduced a segment called "The Story of Us" where students shared stories from their culture. This facilitated better understanding and respect among students.
A noteworthy success of these strategies was an improvement in the overall learning atmosphere, leading to increased collaboration and respect among the students. I could noticeably see an increased level of empathy towards others and increased curiosity about different cultures.
To broaden my skillset in this regard, I’ve engaged in various professional development activities, including webinars by NCSS (National Council for the Social Studies) on teaching in diverse classrooms, which provided me with beneficial resources for culturally responsive teaching methods.