A multicultural classroom environment as opposed to any other classroom environment

Tips, Expert Advice, and Resources for Building Inclusion in the Classroom

Índice Show

What is Multicultural Education?
Classroom Resources for Multicultural Education
Classroom Activities
Support and Resources for Teachers
Top 10 Books for Multicultural Learning
Teacher Resources for ESL Students & Families
For Parents & Guardians:Strengthening Multicultural Education
Promoting Inclusion: Solutions to Common Challenges
Spotlight: Advice for Teaching English Abroad
Q & A: Advice from a Multiculturalism Expert
Additional Resources for Teachers

Long hailed as a melting pot of cultures, America is home to millions of immigrants – whether their ancestors sailed across on the Mayflower or they moved to the country last week. Research by the National Center for Educational Statistics found that one-third of U.S. students are considered racial or ethnic minorities, a number that is set to increase to more than half by 2050. In this changing educational landscape, teachers are challenged with creating inclusive classrooms where students of all backgrounds feel represented and welcomed. The following guide explores how teachers can build inclusive multicultural learning environments.

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Culture is a broad term, and one that is not easily summed up. In her book Culture Learning: The Fifth Dimension on the Language Classroom, author Louise Damen defined culture as the “learned and shared human patterns or models for living; day-to-day living patterns [that] pervade all aspects of human social interaction. Culture is mankind's primary adaptive mechanism.” Individuals from varied nationalities, ethnicities, and races all bring cultural traditions to their interactions, and it's up to teachers to recognize, celebrate and share these different perspectives. The following graphic displays some of the many ways that culture affects learning, both inside and outside the classroom:

In the Classroom

Academic Performance
Students are taught to process and understand ideas and information in different ways based on their cultural upbringings, meaning teachers may need to adapt lesson plans for multicultural classrooms.
Student-teacher Relationships
How students treat authority figures, and what they expect from them, differs across cultures. While American children tend to be more informal, other cultures may have very formal structures for student-teacher relationships.
Classroom Engagement
A complex blend of factors influences how students engage in the classroom. Students from impoverished backgrounds may struggle to focus and participate, and English-language learners may be less likely to speak up in class.
Handling Conflict
Cultural responses to conflict vary significantly, and it's vital for teachers to be aware of these differences so they can mediate effectively. Some students are taught to avoid conflict at all costs, while other cultures see conflict as a positive and constructive exercise.
Solving ProblemsGiven the same set of information about a problem, students from different cultural backgrounds are likely to suggest a wide array of solutions. A teacher's job is to validate a range of approaches and help students understand there are multiple ways to solve a problem.

Outside of the Classroom

Food & Diet
Studies have shown that malnourished children struggle to remain focused and to retain information, so they are more likely to fall behind. Different family structures and socioeconomic factors can influence the nutrition students receive at home.
Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic status can influence school performance in many ways. For instance, some children may not be able to afford proper school supplies, causing them to struggle with homework assignments because they don't have the right tools.
Language
If a child is the only English speaker in their family, getting help from their parents or siblings on school assignments may not be possible. Some students may also have extra duties at home to help their parents communicate with others, taking time from their studies.
Family Structure & Values
Students come from all different types of households, from single-parent families to multi-generational homes to parents of the same gender. Family structure and values can influence how students see themselves, interact with others and their attitudes towards school.
Religion
Whether adhering to specific duties or rules set forth by their religion, or missing class because of a religious ritual, students from religious backgrounds that are less common in U.S. culture may have trouble balancing different priorities.
Ethnicity/Race
Different ethnicities and races have specific ideas about education and how to learn, some of which may clash with American ideas of classroom behavior or learning techniques.
DisabilitiesDisabilitiesIn addition to cultural differences, students with physical or learning disabilities face an added obstacle to their learning. Students with family members who have disabilities may have different perspectives of education or less assistance with homework.

What is Multicultural Education?

Multicultural education is not a task to be done or even an end goal to be accomplished. Instead, it is an approach to education that aims to include all students, promote learning of other cultures, and teach healthy social skills in a multicultural setting. “It is the present and future of education,” according to Shilpa Bhouraskar, who runs a business offering online courses to students worldwide. “Multicultural classrooms are a melting pot of learning,” she says. “Rather than a passive, one-way flow of learning from teacher to student, there is a brainstorming of ideas, stories, and experiences that enrich the educational experience in ways that are impossible in monocultural classes.”

Classroom Resources for Multicultural Education

Using different activities and games in multicultural classrooms is an excellent way to foster inclusivity and encourage students to share their heritage. It's also a beneficial way for teachers to involve students in different styles of study to immerse them in their learning. Sharing about oneself within the confines of an activity is often much easier than being asked open-ended questions and put “on the spot.” These activities can then provide a safe space for dialogue and serve as an entryway into more in-depth interactions. The following section outlines some examples of activities and games appropriate for different age groups.

Classroom Activities

Elementary School	Secondary School
Digital Holiday Field Trip Grades 1-5 Take a virtual field trip to different students' places of origin, on days when their country or culture is celebrating a holiday unique to them.	Immigration Stories Middle or high school Use Ellis Island's interactive online tour to learn about different cultures that immigrated to America. Expand the activity by allowing students to share their unique families' immigration stories.
Games Around the World Grades 1-5 Use the start of each lesson to learn about playground games from different cultures.	Ethnicity Exercise Middle or high school Students discuss their ethnic backgrounds and share three unique things about their culture (food, holidays, celebrations, etc.).
The Name Game Grades 3-5 Students tell stories about what their names mean in their cultures and how they were chosen.	Writing Poetry High school Students write poems that describe their identity, and then peer review in small groups.
Share a Meal Grades 3-5 Students (and their parents, if possible) bring in a dish their culture is known for and share it with their classmates.	‘Who Said It?' Quiz High school Teams compete to see who can identify the most quotes from historical leaders of inclusion movements (Gandhi, Martin Luther King, etc.).

Support and Resources for Teachers

Educating the future generation is a challenging job on its own, but for educators committed to culturally responsive teaching, the task can feel overwhelming at times. Fortunately, they don't have to go it alone—there are numerous resources both within schools and online. Some of the top places that teachers can turn to for support include:

School Counselors

School counselors typically work one-on-one with students and gain a fuller understanding of a child's background and home life. They can help teachers understand challenges that your students are facing outside of the classroom that can be affecting their learning.

Principals

Principals can be the driving force to help teachers enact change, engage parents, and set up meetings or events to encourage inclusive behaviors. They can be key leaders to implement multicultural learning strategies school-wide.

The National Association for Multicultural Education

This professional association provides resources and hosts an annual conference for teachers striving for social justice and equity in their classrooms.

Center for Multilingual Multicultural Research

Operating at the University of Southern California, this group conducts research about best practices in multicultural teaching and shares its findings regularly.

Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence

CREDE offers research, curriculum development tips, videos, and resources for teachers of diverse classrooms.

Institute on Race and Poverty

An excellent resource for teachers who have students struggling against poverty.

Top 10 Books for Multicultural Learning

Reading aloud is an important teaching tool no matter the classroom, and books featuring children from different cultures can play a vital role in bringing all students together. Teachers can set the stage by reading aloud during class, or by having students take turns. For independent reading, students can be encouraged to choose books that allow them to step outside their culture. Below are some good examples of books that explore themes across varied cultures.

Children's Books	Young Adult Books
Esperanza Rising A young girl from Mexico flees to California during the Depression and rises above difficult circumstances.	Tea with Milk May leads a completely different life in America than she did in Japan. When her family moves back to Japan, she struggles to feel at home.
Under the Sunday Tree A collection of 20 poems about Bahamian life for grades 3-6.	They Had a Dream The Civil Rights Struggle – Provides biographies on four influential leaders of the civil rights movement.
Where the Flame Trees Bloom Author Alma Flor Ada shares 11 true stories of her childhood in Cuba, told from the eyes of a child.	Windows Into My World Collection of more than 50 short stories from Latino youth on growing up in America.
The Magic Paintbrush A fantastical tale of a magic paintbrush that carries Steve from his life in San Francisco's Chinatown to a lively world filled with adventure.	The Color Purple This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the struggles of African-American women in rural Georgia in the 1930s.
The Mockingbird's Manual Learning of her ability to speak to birds, a Navajo girl explores ways of communicating and learning, and shares them with her people.	The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Motivated by his goal to become a cartoonist, Junior leaves the Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school in a nearby farming town.
The Name Jar When Unhei moves to America from Korea, she's convinced she'll need a new name her classmates can pronounce, but her new friends have other ideas.	Best Ramadan Ever Almira learns how to deal with temptation during the Holy Month while also trying to fit in to America.
The Sandwich Swap Best friends Salma and Lily eat sandwiches at school every day, but Salma eats hummus and Lily eats peanut butter. Together, they work to overcome their differences.	Keeping Corner Leela looks to Ghandi for hope for social and political change in 1940s India.
Last Stop on Market Street As CJ and his grandmother ride the bus, he starts wondering about the differences between his life and those of his classmates.	Under the Moonlit Sky Esha travels to India and learns about being a Sikh after her father passes away.
Brown Girl Dreaming A collection of poems that share a glimpse into the life of an African-American girl growing up in New Orleans and New York in the 1960s and 70s.	Muslims Around the World Today Traces the diversity of Muslims worldwide and introduces students to their beliefs and practices.
Grandfather's Journey A Japanese man immigrates to America and then moves back to Japan, guided by his love for both countries.	Children of War Voices of Iraqi Refugees – Includes 20 stories from children growing up during the Iraq War.

Teacher Resources for ESL Students & Families

ESL, an acronym for English as a Second Language, is a study program for students who are nonnative English speakers. Ideally, ESL teachers can use their students' cultural traditions and customs to help them learn about one another and find topics of conversation in English, although it will take creativity and forethought to effectively incorporate the experiences of students from many different cultural backgrounds. Some of the best resources for multicultural integration and ESL learning are given below.

For Parents & Guardians:Strengthening Multicultural Education

Parents, guardians and other family members are a crucial component in educating the future generation. They serve as role models, advocates for their children, and links between their children and society as a whole. As active participants in their children's learning, they can help ease the tension, confusion, or frustration that may arise when children are trying to navigate cultural and language differences. The following section highlights some of the ways parents, guardians and other family members can help their children receive the best education possible.

Attend multicultural sessions at school Many schools offer sessions at the beginning of the school year to provide parents and guardians with tools for incorporating multiculturalism into home life. Take advantage of these sessions and meet other students' families.
Take advantage of resources Whether it's the library at your child's school or your city's public library, countless resources – offered as books, videos, audio recordings, or lectures – are available to help learn about common topics in multicultural learning.
Sign up for “anti-bias alerts” Popular culture has an enormous effect on children, but it isn't always constructive. Numerous watchdog agencies exist to help parents be aware of television, film, or music content that is biased against cultures, so they may protect their children from it.
Spend time with the parents of your child's classmates One of the best ways to learn about other cultures is to spend time with the parents of your child's classmates. Take turns preparing traditional dinners from your cultures or schedule a playdate.
Attend multicultural events No matter the size of your city, chances are there are events celebrating other cultures. Check the calendar and find a family-friendly outing to learn about another culture or celebrate your own.
Learn more about your own heritage America is commonly referred to as a melting pot because of the many citizens who trace their heritage to other countries. Take the time to learn more about your own roots and culture and share this with your children.

Promoting Inclusion: Solutions to Common Challenges

A classroom attuned to the individual histories and backgrounds of its students is best positioned to be an inviting and stimulating space for all students. Unfortunately, there are still many that fail to embrace and educate students on the beauty of difference. Some of the most common problems of non-inclusive classroom environments along with their solutions are listed below.

Problem	Solution
Bullying presents an increased risk in classrooms where students aren't properly educated about different cultures.	Help students understand that classmates from other places aren't weird or bad, only different, to help remove motivations that lead to bullying.
Cliques often exclude students from other cultures, as students don't have the tools to interact with children who aren't like them.	Ensure classroom activities are inclusive and designed to engage students with each other, to build friendship and familiarity.
Refraining from talking about culture means students remain ignorant of how their classmates learn and interact with the world.	Make sure lesson plans focus on the cultures and histories of all students in the classroom, not only those from majority groups.
Teachers who don't take time to get to know their students' backgrounds often set a negative precedent for student engagement.	Commit to speaking to all students on a regular basis, to send the message that interacting and learning about one another is important.
When teachers fail to discourage behavior that stems from stereotypes or misconceptions, it can foster bias against students of certain cultural backgrounds.	Teachers should be aware of preconceived ideas about the students in the classroom to guard against biased talk on the part of other students.

Spotlight: Advice for Teaching English Abroad

According to a recent report on international education, the number of international schools has risen by 153 percent in the last 12 years, with more than 529,000 qualified teachers expected to be employed overseas by 2022. Teachers who want to be truly immersed in multicultural classrooms are drawn to these positions, which often pay similar salaries as positions in America. Some of the top tips for succeeding in an international school system include:

Do's

DO dress appropriately

Appropriate attire varies dramatically across cultures, and dressing too informally could be a sign of disrespect or show a lack of awareness about how teachers should present themselves.

DO learn how to manage your classroom early on

Different cultures manage classroom behavior in different ways, so observe native teachers and learn about their practices of discipline.

DO understand the country's learning style

School children in America are taught to be engaged, energetic students, but other cultures train students to be quiet listeners. Just because all students aren't raising their hands doesn't mean they aren't learning

Don'ts

DON'T single a student out

Whether for praise or discipline, this is a decidedly American teaching habit and should be avoided in most international classrooms. Instead, encourage inclusive behaviors.

DON'T neglect to monitor student progress

New teachers may feel like they are struggling, so it's important to track how your students are doing to help remind you that they—and you—are making progress.

DON'T forget to make inclusive learning fun

While it's important to make sure students feel represented and known, it's also important to make sure there are fun activities that help students naturally engage with each other without feeling like it's an assignment.

Q & A: Advice from a Multiculturalism Expert

Every topic discussed gets a unique flavor from the experiences of every student who contributes, based on their individual culture and background. Recently, in one of our classes we were discussing how to write a friendly, open email. It was fascinating to see how students from across the world tweaked the message differently based on cultural aspects of what friendly, open communication means to them. This type of discussion and input would have been impossible in a monocultural class.

The first step for any teacher is being aware at all times that they are addressing a classroom spanning languages and culture. Everything they say, the examples they give, the issues they address, the opinions they express, and the stories they share should keep a higher perspective to avoid issues of prejudice in religion, culture and social structure. Self-awareness is a huge factor, as is being able to create a space where students feel their opinions are valid and accepted, and that there is no right or wrong answer. Experiencing the freedom to say things without fear, ridicule or judgment encourages the most interactive and enriching learning experiences for everyone.

The main factor is creating an environment where open, honest conversation is possible. I also strongly believe in giving my students the freedom and control, rather than me controlling and monitoring what they should and should not say or do. If we trust and let students be within a multicultural room, they eventually tap into their humane side and find ways to understand each other. They still have their differences, but there is a growing sense of acceptance. Cultural barriers cease to exist and people can look beyond to focus on a common goal of learning.

Additional Resources for Teachers

Association for Multicultural Science Education
AMSE promotes science education within culturally diverse classrooms. The group provides a newsletter and hosts an annual conference.

International Multicultural Institute
More than 50,000 people have attended the IMCI's annual conferences and workshops in recent years to work on developing inclusive educational institutions.

National Association on Bilingual Education
NABE advocates for teachers in bilingual education, and also offers an annual conference and series of publications.

National Education Association
The NEA devotes a section of its website to sharing resources for handling diversity and multicultural issues within classrooms.

New York Collective of Radical Educators
NYCoRE organizes multicultural events and conferences to encourage inclusivity even after the school bell rings.

The Importance of Multicultural Education
This academic paper by Geneva Gay makes the case for the critical role multicultural awareness and education plays in academic success and inclusivity.