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When a student directed an LGBT slur at a classmate, this teacher missed the teachable moment. He won’t let that happen again.

I needed to expose my preservice teachers to a real, lasting experience with diversity. I had one day. Growing up in South Dakota, where 86 percent of the population is white, my students come to college with few experiences interacting with culturally diverse students. The reality is that classrooms today are becoming increasingly diverse.

I felt myself straighten in my chair. I quickly shook off the tiredness of a long day of teaching when our professor explained most of us found it difficult to understand multicultural education “because our viewpoint was that of the white, upper middle class.”

My nana is laughing as she tells me one of her favorite childhood stories. As her cheeks lift into a smile, I can see the teenager who boldly told her teacher that threats to visit Nana’s parents about her behavior are ineffective. “You see,” she said, “they don’t speak any English.”

Women’s History Month is a crucial time to remind the nation and the world of women’s important work and the barriers that exist to full gender equality.

If you dig deep, there is a WEALTH of curricular materials right outside the door of your school. Have you ever looked?

Spanish classes are the perfect place to help students develop cultural competence.