Diversity occurs when individuals differ in race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, religion, ability, geography and/or age. Teachers will be expected to teach in diverse classes, with a variety of cultures and diversity. It is important for teachers to first learn how learning occurs in order to effectively teach all students in a diverse classroom. According to Moore (2009), learning is defined as “a relatively permanent change in an individual's ability to perform as a result of experience or practice” (p. 61). Learning is a complex process of acquiring and using information that takes place in the brain. Everyone learns differently and at different paces. According to Culyer and Ebert (2008), “there is no age at which all people are at the same intellectual level, either as a starting point or as a level of attainment. So you can expect all students in your class to represent a range of intellectual abilities” (p. 84). One of the most crucial pieces of information for a developmental teacher is to know that all students learn at different levels and not all students will be at the same grade level. All learning takes place in the brain through neurological connections. The brain is constantly changing and growing from conception to birth and even after birth. The brain is made up of neurons which are nerve cells that carry signals by being connected to each other. According to Santrock (2009), “[t]he connectivity between neurons increases, creating new neural pathways” during the first year of a child's life. Researchers have discovered an intriguing aspect of synaptic connections. Nearly twice as many of these connections are made as will ever be used” (p. 148). Synaptic "blooming and pruning" occurs middle of paper...... students and their interest to keep them motivated to learn. Learning should be encouraged by all teachers. Learning is a complex process that occurs in a diverse society. Works Cited Culyer, RC and Ebert, SE (2008). School: An introduction to education (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Eliot, L. (2010). The myth of pink and blue brains. Educational Leadership, 68(3), 32-36. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Gurian, M. (2010) Boys and girls learn differently! A Guide for Teachers and Parents (10th ed.). New York, NY: Jossey-Bass. King, K., Gurian, M. and Stevens, K. (2010). Gender-friendly schools. Educational Leadership, 68(3), 38-42. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Moore, KD (2009) Effective Teaching Strategies: From Theory to Practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Santrock, JR (2009) Children (2nd ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.