Race, Ethnicity, and Language within the Classroom- SL

From what I have noticed based on everyone's pinterest projects over the last few classes, including my own, all of us touched upon the idea that we would like to ensure that within our classrooms everyone is treated and viewed as being the same. For the most part, I think that is great and would hopefully decrease bullying as well as social hierarchies of students within the classroom. On the other hand, this idea is slightly flawed. I feel that along with this idea, it is also important to embrace what makes us all different. It is through the use of embracing everyone's differences whether it be race, culture, language, ect, that will allow for our classroom to be a safer, closer, and ultimately more accepting place. As we had discussed in class, I feel that there are many ways to achieve this goal. One way, as we had mentioned would be to learn a few words from other languages which can be used within a unit or content area. By doing this, students are able share or expand their view of cultures within the classroom. Not only does this expand student's cultures but I think that it also could help engage students more with lessons simply because it can kind of provide a hook to capture their interest. While it is not always easy to address race, ethnicity and language within a lesson especially when it may have to do with math or science, it is definitely important to try to touch on these topics, even if it is only for a brief moment. By taking moments to do that, it shows students that you care about them and accept them for who they are. It also sends the message that they should care about and accept one another as well.