Today, classrooms are filled with children of many different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, it is important that educators have proper knowledge of dealing with children of diversity. Teachers need to establish strategies to academically meet the needs of their diverse students. In this paper, I will discuss three challenges involved with ensuring that teaching strategies are appropriate for culturally diverse children. I will also discuss these cultural challenges in the classroom using one sociological perspective and another perspective. One issue is lack of knowledge of students’ cultural backgrounds. “Gaining general knowledge about a cultural or ethnic group can give teachers a sense of views about behavior, rules or decorum and etiquette, communication and learning styles.” (New York University Steinhardt School, 2008). Teachers should show interest in learning about their students. This can be done on their own time by paying visits to the home to communicate with parents to learn information or in the classroom by doing class projects that relates to the student’s culture. Another issue is stereotyping. Educators need to know their place. Students should not be judged because of their race, culture, ethnicity, etc. Minorities should not be looked at any different because of cultural characteristics. “To engage students effectively in the learning process, teachers must know their students and their academic abilities individually, rather than relying on racial or ethnic stereotypes or prior experience with other students of similar backgrounds.” (Culture in the Classroom). Just because “Jason” comes from an African American family does not mean that he will be slower at learning and the fact that “Joseline” is a Hispanic does not have anything to do with her learning
