A meeting of the minds between family members and school professionals about the definitions of problematic behavior is essential. This type of understanding can often be facilitated when educators have knowledge of the family's socioeconomic status, history, and ethnic and cultural patterns. The purpose of this article is to help school professionals understand and respond appropriately to these influences. This article begins by describing the impact of socioeconomic factors on children and the family. The next section, "Ethnic Differences," focuses first on the general life strategies of various ethnic groups, then on the cultural values of Hispanic, African, Asian, and Native Americans, and ends with a discussion of differences in cognitive styles prevalent in each ethnic group. The third section, on affirming diversity and promoting equity, concludes the article, describing activities and programs than can be used for achieving greater understanding of ethnic differences.