Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Teaching in Rural and Urban Appalachian Settings: Unity, Diversity, and Location
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Teachers must tailor instruction to context in which they teach. Within rural districts in the Appalachian region, there are intrinsic differences in urban and rural schools. In all settings, teachers and teacher preparation programs must recognize many factors that have an impact on students, the classroom, and the community. Even though there are some common threads and trends, rich diversity exists in both rural and urban areas. The way a teacher addresses commonalities and differences (such as those related to ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and other aspects of identity) will affect the social climate in a school and community. This presentation will provide a survey of factors affecting rural and urban Appalachian schools and discuss their implications for instructional planning and teaching. It will explore ways for educators to enhance what communities and the students from them bring to the table, not replace it.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dr. J. Michael King is a native of the New River Valley currently an associate professor in the Patton College of Education at the University of Pikeville in Eastern Kentucky. He completed his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Virginia Tech and his Master’s degrees in English and Counseling at Radford University.
Teaching in Rural and Urban Appalachian Settings: Unity, Diversity, and Location
Teachers must tailor instruction to context in which they teach. Within rural districts in the Appalachian region, there are intrinsic differences in urban and rural schools. In all settings, teachers and teacher preparation programs must recognize many factors that have an impact on students, the classroom, and the community. Even though there are some common threads and trends, rich diversity exists in both rural and urban areas. The way a teacher addresses commonalities and differences (such as those related to ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and other aspects of identity) will affect the social climate in a school and community. This presentation will provide a survey of factors affecting rural and urban Appalachian schools and discuss their implications for instructional planning and teaching. It will explore ways for educators to enhance what communities and the students from them bring to the table, not replace it.
