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Jordan Keegan

Dr. Flowers

EDU 280: Valuing Cultural Diversity

1 February 2022

Teacher Interview and Classroom Diversity Observations

The teacher’s classroom is adjusted so that there are groups of tables for four students at

each. There are also small tables, and two person tables that students can sit at. There are two

book shelfs placed on opposite sides of the classroom. As for the decorations, there are many

posters aligned on the walls of the classroom. These posters are encouraging and colorful. There

are also little lights placed at the top of the wall in the front of the room. She turns these on when

the students are watching an educational video, so that she can turn off the main light.

The teacher has a section of a wall in the classroom dedicated to the students. Above the

bookshelf, on the right side of the room, there are several images of her students in different

settings. This includes pictures of them in the classroom, outside participating in activities, and

when they are doing experiments. There is also a small stage in the front of the room where the

teacher presents lessons and guides the students through activities. This stage allows the students

to pay more attention when they are being taught.

The class is made up of fourth grade students. There are thirty-six students, and they are

all diverse. There are White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic students in the classroom. There is
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about an equal number of boys and girls in the class as well. There are no students who are still

learning the English language, and there are no children with special needs that I am aware of.

Prior to observing the classroom, I was unaware of how the students would be able to

maneuver around the room. I also was curious as to how the teacher would implement diversity

in the classroom. After my observations, I learned that it is not just the appearance of the

classroom that promotes diversity. It is also through the lessons, activities, and the material that

they use in the class.

For this interview, I had sent the questions to the teacher through email. She had gotten

the answers to me within the span of a couple of days. To the first question, she answered that

her school benefits from having MCE in the classroom by making sure that every student and all

families feel included. She followed up by saying that behavior becomes less of an issue if you

show understanding of where they are coming from. It helps all students when learning about

diversity because it creates a sense of community.

To the next question, regarding the experience of relating with people who are different,

she answered that every year, she gets to learn more from the diverse mix of students. She also

notes that she has hosted twelve exchange students in her home. These students were all from

different countries and she learned more through them.

The teacher stated that she integrates cultural diversity into her classroom through

literature. She mentioned that literature is a great way to introduce different cultures to her class.

When I had observed her class before, I noticed that the students had read an article about

Mexican culture. It seemed like they learned much through this reading.
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As for the role that diversity has had in shaping her teaching style, the teacher believes

that by being culturally sensitive, she builds a stronger connection with her students. She notes

that she has never had a behavior problem that was too difficult to handle, and she believes that

this is also a result of the connection she has built with her students.

The teacher mentioned that she integrates culturally diverse videos and literature into her

lesson plans. She also includes the fact that she allows time for extended discourse so that

students can present their different perspectives. She said that students bring their background

into the conversation when they are having a discussion.

The teacher said that she is very comfortable with discussing race-related topics with her

students. She also mentioned that she tries to listen more than she speaks. I believe that this is a

great thing to mention because it is important to listen and learn from students from a different

culture.

5 additional questions:

1. Do you think there is room for improvement when it comes to the current state of

multicultural education?

- The teacher answered this question with the words “One hundred percent!”. She goes

on to say that she wishes there were more people of culture involved in education so

that we can learn more from them.

2. How do you suggest teachers approach the topic of diversity in the classroom?

- She answered by saying that teachers should approach this topic with open hearts and

ears. She said that there should be less talking and more learning. Being receptive,

and the attitude that you portray is important.

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3. Do you celebrate cultural days and months in the classroom? If so, how?

- The class celebrates days through room transformations. The teacher notes that she

tries to make it more of a daily thing.

4. At what grade level/age range do you believe the topic of race and culture should start to

be taught?

- To this, the teacher simply responded by saying it should start being taught at birth.

5. For the grade level that you currently teach, how would you approach teaching your

students about a different culture?

- The teacher says that she teaches her students about different cultures through

literature, interviews, videos, guest speakers, and discussions among the students.