In this presentation I summarize and analyze credible information that I found about how diversity and multiculturalism promote student achievement.

1. MULTICULTURALISM
&
DIVERSITY
Ashlee White
SOE 115-B1: Psychology of Teaching and Learning
Kendall College

2. OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGY
◦ The student population in America is continuing to grow more diverse. However,
a diverse, multicultural classroom is more than just sitting different students of
different colors next to each other. Multiculturalism and diversity in the
classroom, in my opinion means incorporating lesson plans to learn about other
cultures, using authors for books from different races and cultures, and
promoting that we are all different, but we too are all the same. I believe that by
teaching about other cultures and creating an integrated, diverse classroom,
student achievement will grow.

3. CREDIBLE SOURCE #1
◦ According to Teaching Leadership, the bottom line is that multicultural education drives
student growth and achievement. We’ve talked a lot this semester about learnings styles
and as a teacher it’s important to teach students in the way they learn best. The article
summarizes how cultural learning styles are a component of multicultural education. The
article states, “Using ethnic materials, experiences, and examples as the contexts for
teaching, practicing, and demonstrating mastery of academic and subject matter skills
increases the appeal of the tools of instruction, heightens the practical relevance of the
skills to be learned, and improves students' time on task. This combination of conditions
leads to greater focused efforts, task persistence, skill mastery, and academic
achievement.” (Cazden, John, & Hymes, 1985; Garcia, 1982; Boggs, WatsonGregeo, &
McMillen, 1985) By creating a multicultural classroom that is diverse and accepting,
students will feel more welcome to learn as well and take the academic risks they need to
for intensive learning.

4. CREDIBLE SOURCE #2
◦ By using multiculturalism and diversity in the classroom, we can better
prepare our students for the real word and society. According to a blog
written by KC Coburn who is a professor for a the college of education in
Hawaii, diversity and peace pair together. Coburn states that one of the
most important things that happens from multicultural education is,
“help[ing] all students to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed
to function effectively in a pluralistic democratic society and to interact,
negotiate, and communicate with peoples from diverse groups in order to
create a civic and moral community that works for the common good”
(2014 p. 1). By creating a diverse classroom that is integrated, students will
learn to accept others and even learn about others. This will help set them
up for success in the society we live in today.

5. CREDIBLE SOURCE #3
◦ According to the Century Foundation, diverse classrooms can benefit all students in
multiple ways and promote better achievement. Amy Stuart Wells, Lauren Fox, and Diana
Cordova-Cobo of Teacher’s College Columbia state, ‘“The benefits of school diversity
run in all directions.’ There is increasing evidence that “diversity makes us smarter,” a
finding that selective colleges long ago embraced and increasing numbers of young
parents are coming to appreciate at the K–12 level. The authors write: “researchers have
documented that students’ exposure to other students who are different from themselves
and the novel ideas and challenges that such exposure brings leads to improved cognitive
skills, including critical thinking and problem solving.”’ The authors then go on to talk
about how it doesn’t just benefit their ways of thinking, but knowing how to interact and
accept others will also increase your chance of a better job in the future because, 96% of
major employers say that it is important that employees can be comfortable working with
colleagues and customers from diverse and cultural backgrounds.

6. ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION
◦ I think that all three of my sources had very good points. From cultural
learning styles to preparing students for the society they live in, and
promoting student achievement and creating an environment to set
students up for success, I can say that a diverse classroom has many
benefits. One thing that stood out to me the most was that 96 percent of
major employers want employees who can work with people from diverse
cultural backgrounds. The purpose of school is to prepare our students for
the future. This means college and the work force. By helping students
learn about other cultures and be accepting, we are helping promote their
achievement in the long run, and even right there in the classroom.

7. CONNECTIONS TO EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY:
◦ I thought it was really interesting to read about the first
credible source that talked about cultural learning styles.
This relates to the theory of multiple intelligences by
Dr. Howard Garnder. Gardner believes that it is
important to avoid labeling students as only one type of
learner. There are many different ways in which people
learn information and as educators, it’s important to
know your students multiple intelligence so that you can
teach them successfully. This relates to cultural learning
styles because it too promotes different ways of
learning.

8. CONCLUSIONS
◦ In conclusion, I think that a diverse, multicultural classroom does promote
student achievement. By using different cultural learning styles, you can reach
different learners and teach students new ways of learning. You never know if
learning math from a different culture may be easier than the way you learned it. I
also think it’s huge as educators to prepare our students for the real world and the
society that they live in. To be successful in today’s society you have to be able to
accept others from different cultural backgrounds and be able to interact with
them. By teaching students in an integrated classroom, we are preparing them for
their future and even setting them up for chances with a better job.

9. COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES
◦ If I had a parent ask me about multiculturalism and diversity being promoted in my classroom I would
respond with,
◦ “Hello, and thank you for asking! I have a very diverse group this year in my class and am going to use that to
our advantage to learn about other cultures and their styles of learning. In the long run this will also help
your child to accept others and work with other regardless of their cultural background. I think it’s important
to include families in this theory and want to invite you to our culture celebration where we will learn about
our classmates, their families, and where they come from. We will have different activities from around the
world and different foods to try too. I look forward to a great year with you and your child”

10. REFERENCES
◦ Coburn, K. (n.d.). College of Education Blog. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from
http://blog.coe.hawaii.edu/3-reasons-multicultural-education-makes-a-better-classroom
◦ Hylton, V.W. and Dummet, L. Multiethnic/multicultural materials. Richmond, VA: Virginia State Department
of Education, Division of Technical Assistance for Equity in Education, 1986. (ED 272 440)
◦ Wells, A., Fox, L., & Cordova-Cobo, D. (2017, April 03). How Racially Diverse Schools and Classrooms Can
Benefit All Students. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-
diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/