In chapter eight, Addressing Issues of Diversity, of Classroom Management by Paul

Burden, Burden describes multiple ways in which diversity is exhibited in student characteristics
and provides information on how to create a supportive, caring classroom. In the next few
paragraphs I will summarize classroom management implications for diverse classrooms, the
sources of student diversity, and being able to create an inclusive multicultural classroom and
explain how I will apply these topics in my classroom.
Classroom management implications for diverse classroom indicate that students who are
in the classroom affect classroom management. Schools all over the United States are very
diverse and contain students from different economic, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic
backgrounds and all of these factors contribute to the diversity in the classroom. Your
understanding of your students will likely influence your decisions about ways that you will
organize the physical environment, manage student behavior, create a supportive learning
environment, facilitate instruction, and promote safe and wellness(Burden) To be an effective
classroom manager in a diverse classroom, you should make a commitment to get to know all of
your students. It is important to remember that students come in different shapes, sizes, colors
and physical states. Understanding students background help build a positive teacher-student
relationship. Students feel comfortable around teachers they can relate to and often talk and
interact with them more as well. Being able to observe and tend to all the students need
individually, in groups or as a whole will help create a supportive learning environment. Students
should be able to be themselves in the classroom without getting picked on and bullied for their
differences.
Sources of students diversity explores the differences in cognitive, affective, and physical
areas including differences due to gender, ethnicity, learning style, language; differences due to

exceptionalities and at-risk characteristics; and others. In the classroom, students rarely fall
clearly into one category or another, and may exhibit characteristic from several
categories.(Burden) Problem solving, using mental strategies, information processing and
continuous learning are the abilities of a cognitive student. Some students may have low
academic ability while others have high academic abilities. It is up to the teacher to be able to
realize which students learn faster or slower than others and come to a conclusion on how he or
she will teach the class at a rate that is good for everyone. Struggling learners have trouble
learning the instructional resources, texts, workbooks and materials at an average rate. These
students often have limited attention spans and deficiencies in basic skills such as reading writing
and mathematics and often need frequent feedback, corrective instruction, special instructional
pacing, instructional variety and maybe even modified material. Special instructional
consideration is needed for gifted and talented students. Education in the affective area focus on
feelings and attitudes and elf-esteem, time managements, typical affective educational goals,
confidence and self-direction are a few examples of this. There will also be difference in size,
shape and color and it important for the teacher to treat all students the same.
How the students feel about the classroom and the teachers attitude toward the students
and the curriculum makes a difference in the way that they participate in the classroom. To
create a supportive, caring environment, you should translate your attitude by celebrating
diversity, believe in all students and set high expectations, give encouragement to all students,
respond to all students enthusiastically and show students that you care about them.(Burden)
For examples, when students perform well academically, teachers should offer words of praise
and encouragements. Reinforce them to do well constantly and let them know that they did a
good job. Encouraging words and guiding suggestions help students feel that they are being

supported in their efforts. Teachers should recognize all of their students for their achievements
and try not to leave students out. When students get left out, and it may not even be on purpose,
they may exclude themselves from the class and feel that they are below the other students in the
class. Teaching students about other students religions, ethnicities and culture values is a good
way to celebrate diversity. Teachers can also celebrate diversity by switching up the language in
the classroom from time to time. Maybe one day out of the week the students can learn a
different language or bring in items from different ethnicities and explain the importance of
them. I think that it is as equally important for students to observe, respect and understand
diversity in the classroom as the teacher and in order to do this; teachers have to be willing to
provide this opportunity to their students.
When addressing issues of diversity, in my classroom, I will create an inclusive
multicultural classroom by encouraging and supporting diversity. In order for me to relate to my
students I have to make observations from day to day. Being able to notice changes in moods,
interaction, reaction and condition is important to becoming an effective teacher. By taking steps
to develop self-concept in my students I will be letting them showcase their best skills
effectively. I will not expect each of my students to have the same interests and abilities or to
learn in the same ways but I will expect and encourage all of my students to respect each others
differences. When I see students struggling, I will teach at a flexible pace to allow these students
to progress at a productive rate. I will also encourage the development of hobbies and interests
and listen to my students. As a teacher I will have to realize and understand that all of my
students will differ in some kind of way and accept them for who they are. Instead of judging my
students, I will need to be accepting and patient with my students as well as tend to their needs
and accommodate to the students that need accommodation.

In conclusion, diversity can be influenced by learning styles creative potential, gender,

language, and cultural diversity. Diversity can be affected by disabilities, conditions placing the
student at risk and socioeconomic factors. Individual differences should be taken into account,
by the teacher, when instructional methods are selected and procedures are determined for
classroom management in order for all students to meet their instructional needs. Assistance
should be provided when needed and curriculum content and materials should reflect the
diversity of learners in the classroom.