Perspective and Overview

• How have society's expectations changed over the past century in regard to who should be educated?
• Why is using the right language important when discussing differences and referring to students' backgrounds and abilities?

Theoretical and Empirical Support

• Why should teachers be concerned about equity and classrooms that are inclusive and equitable?
• Contrast "self-fulfilling prophecy" with the "sustaining expectation effect."
• Give some examples of how teachers treat students for whom they hold high expectations as compared to those for whom they hold low expectations.
• Contrast the traditional definition of IQ with the views held by Robert Sternberg and Howard Gardner.
• Why are the concepts of cognitive and learning styles important when thinking about diverse classrooms?

Exceptionalities

• What are the main features of inclusion as defined by legislation and judicial decisions over the past quarter-century?
• What is an IEP and what are features of the IEP process?
• What strategies can teachers use when working with students with disabilities?
• What are the characteristics commonly observed in gifted students?

Culture, Ethnicity, and Race

• Contrast the meanings of the terms culture, ethnicity, and race.
• How do the "melting pot" and "cultural pluralism" perspectives differ?
• Contrast the theory of cultural deficits with the cultural differences theory.
• Describe actions teachers can take to develop cultural understandings of the students in their classrooms.
• Why is it important for teachers to use culturally relevant pedagogies?

Language Diversity

• What types of language diversity are teachers likely to find in their classrooms?
• Why is it critical that teachers be supportive of language differences?
• How do children approach the problem of learning English if it is not their native language?
• Contrast transitional bilingual programs with full bilingual programs.

Gender Differences

• How is gender bias still a problem in the classroom?
• Discuss gender differences in regard to personality and abilities.
• Contrast gender differences attributed to nature as compared to socialization.
• What kinds of differential treatment in regard to gender are most likely to be found in schools?

Social Class Differences

• How do social scientists define the term socioeconomic status (SES)?
• What specific problems are faced by students of low economic status? Out of school? In school?
• How can teachers prevent the negative situations described in the Rist study?