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Blog Entry #6


In both of my service learning placements there is quite a bit of diversity. 

 In the 6th grade class: there are many students that are currently learning English. This makes it difficult to instruct once and have it be fully understood. To compensate for this the teacher explains things once verbally, then if/when applicable she will do a demonstration and then even go to each grouping of desks and ensure that everyone is clear on the instruction. Fortunately there are many bilingual students in her class so often she will also enlist their help in explaining what is expected if the other methods are proving effective in that particular situation. When it comes to tests and things like that often the teacher will pull out a few students that need extra help with comprehension and gives them a verbal version of the same test. 

 In the kindergarten class: there is slightly less diversity culturally and linguistically but there is a lot of diversity when it comes to the level each student is at, which seems normal for kindergarten since it is often the first formal schooling that takes place. To help with this the teacher strategically groups the kids so that the higher kids can help the lower ones and things like that. It seems like all of the students do well with this and enjoy doing "games" and activities will all of their classmates. Additionally the teacher has volunteers come in and work individually with the children on things specific to the students needs. 

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