​ Because the United States is such a massive country with people all over the world, it is

pretty obvious that there would be lots of diversity within our classrooms. This diversity within

the classroom allows for students to develop their education and grow in a diverse environment.

As shown in figure 3.1 on page 84 of Kauchak and Eggen’s Introduction to Teaching: Becoming

a Professional (2011), this model breaks down the four dimensions of diversity in the classroom

which include culture, language. Gender, and exceptionalities. The diverse environment gives

children exposure to different cultures, perspectives, and experiences that can help foster an

environment of inclusivity, empathy, and open-mindedness among students (Gurin, P., & Epps,

E.G. (2016).

​ Cultural diversity is one of the four dimensions of diversity, and this is because this

addresses the various cultures that will be encountered in the classrooms, and how these cultural

differences impact learning. (Kauchak & Eggen, 2011) As educators, it is important that one of

the highest priorities for our classroom is producing a safe and inclusive environment that allows

students to retain their cultural identity. In order to create this environment, we must do our part

of accepting and learning to understand the different cultural backgrounds that students may

have. This could include little things such as incorporating different cultures / references to other

cultures into lesson plans in order to engage the student, while also giving them a sense of

familiarity due to cultural references. As stated by Kauchak and Eggen (2011), assimilation

turned out to be counterproductive and resulted in people losing their sense of cultural identity,

because further research showed that motivation for learning was increased when students were

given a chance to learn about their own cultural backgrounds. As Freire (1993) stated

“Education as the exercise of domination stimulates the credulity of students, with the

ideological intent (often not perceived by educators) of indoctrinating them to adapt to the world
of oppression.” With assimilation, students were essentially being taught to lose their own

identity as a means to adapt to American culture. It's also important for educators to be open to

educate themselves to new cultures in order to help build off student’s backgrounds and help

accommodate students to ensure a fair and equal learning environment.

​ Language diversity is another dimension of diversity and it relates directly to culture, as

culture plays a big role in our language. For instance, with children who enter the school system,

but come from a home where all they speak is their native language, it is apparent that these

children tend to struggle to learn. Statistics show that almost 10% (roughly 5 million) of all

students in the country are English learners. (Babinski, Amendum, Knotek, Sánchez, & Malone,

2018) This is detrimental to students' education, because this means that 10% of students not

only have to learn the curriculum content but have to do so while learning english. This

obviously creates a language barrier, and results in these students falling behind,

underperforming, and eventually dropping out. As teachers, we must be extremely attentive in

order to identify those students who are falling behind, and do what we can in order to get them

up to speed. Table 3.1 on page 99 of Kauchak and Eggen’s Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a

Professional (2011), shows us all of the different programs that have been attempted, along with

the advantages and disadvantages. To create a supportive classroom environment, teachers

should show personal interest in all students and adjust their teaching to students' backgrounds,

using positive reinforcement and interactive activities such as group work and Q&A sessions.

Incorporating students' heritage languages and providing concrete examples can help all students

understand English language concepts. Additionally, it's important to avoid situations that may

embarrass English learners and to continually check for understanding to adjust instruction

effectively.
​ The next dimension of diversity that you should expect to encounter in the classroom is

Gender. As teachers, it's crucial to openly communicate with students about gender issues and

encourage them to strive for equal treatment. Encouraging equal participation, presenting

non-stereotypical role models, and promoting diverse career options for both genders can help

create an inclusive learning environment. Additionally, engaging with parents, especially

mothers, about their language regarding STEM careers can positively impact students'

perceptions and aspirations. (Kauchak & Eggen, 2011)

​ Being diverse doesn’t necessarily pertain only to culture, gender, and language, because

the 4th dimension of diversity in the classroom is learners with exceptionalities. As teachers, our

response to learners with exceptionalities should involve several key steps. Firstly, we need to be

observant and attentive to signs that a student may have exceptional needs, like difficulties in

learning or behavior that shows exceptionality. By being proactive in identifying these students,

we can ensure they receive the support they need to thrive. In the past, identification often relied

on a discrepancy model, which compared a student's performance in various areas, but this

method had limitations, including sometimes identifying issues only after they had caused

significant problems. (Kauchak & Eggen, 2011) Instead, the response to intervention (RTI)

model is now favored, which involves early screening and proactive measures to address

potential learning issues before they escalate. This might include modifying instruction to better

suit the student's needs, providing individualized attention, or seeking collaboration with other

professionals like special educators. Ultimately, our goal is to create an inclusive learning

environment where all students, regardless of their abilities, have the opportunity to succeed and

develop to their full potential.

​ In conclusion, the diversity within classrooms in the United States presents both

challenges and opportunities for educators. Embracing cultural, linguistic, gender, and

exceptional diversity enriches the educational experience for all students, fostering inclusivity,

empathy, and open-mindedness. By creating safe and inclusive environments that honor the

different four forms of diversity in the classroom, teachers can enhance motivation for learning

and promote academic success.

 References
Freire, P. (1993) The Banking Concept of Education. In: Bartholomae, A. and Petrosky, B., Eds.,

Ways of Reading, St.

Gurin, P., & Epps, E.G. (2016). Advantages of diversity in education: Benefits to individuals,

educational institutions, and society. Educational Researcher, 45(3), 182-197.

Kauchak, D. P., & Eggen, P. D. (2011). Introduction to teaching: Becoming a professional. Upper
Saddle River, N.J: Pearson. 7th Edition