The End

     Or is it?  The time has come where I have finally completed Milner's entire book.  It has been quite a road getting through this book on top of all the other crazy items on the ever-growing "to-do" list, but I can honestly say this has been a beneficial journey.   What exactly have I learned, and how am I going to continue my learning from here?
     Since beginning this book a few weeks ago, I have grown in my knowledge and understanding of how to address diversity in my future classroom.  One major change in my thinking has to deal with an earlier post addressing colorblindness.  Prior to my reading, I had never thought in this way about diversity in the classroom. I so quickly want to say that I am going to work to treat all of my students equally and treat them in a fair manner.  Milner responded to my thoughts by letting me know that I am not truly seeing my students for who they are if I choose to ignore their race, ethnicity, and backgrounds.  Each student has different needs.  I am to see the whole child and respond to these needs accordingly.  By respecting each student enough to see and appreciate their diversity I am able to reach deeper and create a positive relationship transcending the average teacher-student level of interaction.  This leads to another strong point I learned throughout this reading.  I need to challenge my idea of relationship.  Milner explains that relationships between students and teachers need to be strong.  In order for this relationship to be truly beneficial, however, it must be built on mutual trust, respect, and care.  This is a process.  There are multiple ways to go about establishing relationships like this, but it is also important to remember that each student will respond in a different way.  By seeing the whole child and respecting their diverse backgrounds, I can better understand them and work to build this bond.  This will not always be easy or even successful, but it is a vital aspect of teaching that is often overlooked.
    Throughout this blog, I have spent much time posting about all the positive learning experiences I have had during this time.  This, however, does not mean that after reading one book I suddenly have all the answers.  There are still many issues I am concerned about with addressing diversity most beneficially in my classroom.  My main concern is how I, a white, middle class female, can be used most effectively in a classroom of students all different from me.  I understand that this is beautiful and that we will all learn from each other, but this still does not mean this is going to happen perfectly.  Rather, I often see my race as a hindrance when it comes to teaching in a highly diverse school.  Will I be at a disadvantage to my students because they do not see me as a truly relatable individual?  I can make guesses at how Milner might response to a question like this, but I still do not think that an easy answer will put this fear at ease.
    In response to what I am uncertain about, as well as in response to this learning experience, I plan to continue growing professionally and educating myself on diversity.  First, I hope to get a hold of some of the books that classmates of mine have read for their blogs on diversity.  This will not only give me a chance to learn from other authors, but will also give me a way to be able to interact, collaborate, and learn from my classmates as well.  I also want to immerse myself in culturally diverse events.  Living near the city of Chicago means I have access to a variety of diverse situations and environments.  I want to take advantage of these situations, and spend time learning about myself and all of those around me.  More specifically, I hope to broaden my horizons and travel to Africa in the future to be a teacher in that area of the world.  To better prepare myself for this upcoming possibility, I will find other individuals to talk with.  Collaboration with others is one of the best ways to learn.  I hope to learn from others' experiences and work with the family of God that surrounds me to become the best teacher I possibly can.