Behavior and Classroom Management in the Multicultural Classroom: Proactive, Active, and Reactive Strategies

Addressing the increasing number of culturally and linguistically diverse students in today’s schools, Behavior and Classroom Management in the Multicultural Classroom provides general and special education teachers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to make the proactive, active, and reactive interventions necessary to create a positive classroom environment in which all students can learn. Going beyond the traditional rules and hierarchy of consequences and reinforcements, the book demonstrates how to incorporate basic classroom management plans, functional behavioral analysis, functional behavioral assessments, and behavioral intervention plans into the development and implementation of response-to-intervention and school-wide positive behavior support programs. In every chapter, the authors use real world examples and case studies to explore how language and culture affect students’ responses to behavior and classroom management. Unique chapters cover social skills training and collaborating with families of diverse students.

Terry L. Shepherd (EdD, special education, Ball State University) has been a department head and associate professor of special education at Indiana University South Bend since 2007. Previously, he was an associate professor of special education at Texas A & M International University, a teacher for children with emotional and behavior disorders in the public schools, and a teacher at a residential treatment center for troubled teenagers. He has published numerous professional papers in emotional and behavior disorders, international special education, and teacher education. He is the author of Working with Students with Emotional and Behavior Disorders: Characteristics and Teaching Strategies (Pearson-Merrill, 2010), Enthusiasm, Humor, and Optimism (with R. L. Smith & D. Skarbek, Editor), and Professional Teacher Dispositions: Additions to the Mainstream, (R & L Education, 2013). Dr. Shepherd has been a member of the Council for Exceptional Children since 1998.

Diana Linn is associate professor of special education and department chair at Texas A & M International University in Laredo, Texas. Previously, she was a teacher in general education and special education classrooms in Mexico and South Texas. Dr. Linn received her PhD from Texas A & M University, College Station. She has published articles concerning the disproportionality of English language learners in special education and the use of cultural autobiographies in pre-service teacher education programs. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the National Association for Multicultural Education.