5/18/2023

Three Steps You Can Take Now to Expand Cultural Equity in Your Classroom

Teachers want the best for all of their students, whether that’s literacy instruction based in research, like the science of reading, or methods for ensuring their students are comfortable in the classroom. How can teachers take steps to ensure students learn in a classroom environment that expands opportunity through cultural equity? Consider implementing a culturally responsive pedagogy, which, according to Gloria Ladson-Billings, is “an approach that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes.” Increase cultural equity in your classroom and see your students succeed with these useful steps.

1. Emphasize Autonomy

Consider student voice. Sharing multiple voices is a major goal of literacy instruction. However, students don’t always have the autonomy they need and deserve to participate in the classroom as individuals with unique backgrounds. Reflecting on a range of scholars and teachers who have written from culturally responsive positions and drawing on the critical awareness Bree Picower advocates for, teachers should ask themselves some critical questions:

1. Who are the voices heard the most in my classroom?
2. Whose voices do I immediately affirm?
3. Whose voices do I resist?
4. What are my biases?
5. What are my students telling me with what they are saying, and what they are not saying?
6. What are the linguistic and cultural strengths present in my classroom?
7. Who is left out?

By approaching each student as an individual with unique abilities, strengths, and interests, teachers can create a classroom environment that is welcoming and inclusive. This includes voices of students who speak languages other than English, students whose backgrounds and beliefs may differ from the majority, students with disabilities, and students from a variety of household structures.

It is vital teachers address the full scope of a child’s developmental needs to advance educational equity, including being part of a school that is welcoming. While educators include the voices of all their students, no student should be put on the spot as “the spokesperson” for an experience or particular identity. Rather, students can be invited to share their stories, if they are comfortable doing so.

After inviting student voices, educators can offer choices and options for reading and writing that help students see themselves in the content.

2. Engage in Intentional Training

Often, teachers aren’t trained in culturally responsive pedagogy and may unintentionally “other” students, hindering them from succeeding in the classroom. Unless school systems specifically offer training about what it means to be a culturally responsive teacher, or unless a teacher seeks additional professional development, these topics may not even be considered in many places. To grow, we must take the time to learn—and teachers can serve as leaders and models for growth, as can school and district leaders.

Strong work begins from a clear theoretical foundation. Yet, educators need more than theories about improving equity. They need effective strategies that have systematic, long-term impact. These strategies include:

• Providing high-quality instruction for all students
• Continuing to read and study what it means to be culturally responsive
• Considering the strengths students bring to the classroom

Teachers and school leaders can serve as allies and advocates for their students, providing explicit and systematic literacy instruction while recognizing the individual student matters. One step in advocacy is ensuring teachers and their colleagues are able to have conversations about critical topics in supportive ways through professional learning opportunities.

3. Craft Materials Critically

When working with students, teachers can introduce relevant texts, including books by a range of authors. These author voices can help students see themselves in the materials chosen for reading. Consider the work ofAngela Dominguez or Raúl the Third, who showcase bilingual language practices. Dominguez includes a sense of activism in her work, as well.

Or consider the work of authors likeJerry Craft, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Jason Reynolds, and Carole Boston Weatherford, who speak with beauty about characters who experience Black joy. The work of inclusive materials does not stop with language or ethnicity, and it can include texts from authors who write from the perspective of neurodivergence, as well as authors who are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

It is also the case that students should see their lives, experiences, and families represented in curriculum and assessment materials. These representations should be thoughtful and realistic. Within this authentic content, teachers can take what has been established in research about literacy instruction to help students take meaningful steps toward growth.

In short, literacy is for everyone. Access to written and spoken language is an essential part of learning and unlocks possibilities for deeper instruction and learning across content areas. This means students who are Emergent Bilinguals, as well as multilingual students, benefit from thoughtful approaches to reading.

Looking Ahead

There is no end to this work. Educators should always be learning, growing, and improving practices. School systems and leaders should always be considering approaches, messages, and content with a critical eye for advocacy. Educators and school leaders want what is best for students. Even with the kindest of intentions, equity does not happen without careful, systematic thinking, planning, and the willingness to have honest conversations.

Teachers and school leaders can ask themselves: What is the message sent through the materials I share? What are my expectations for all of my students? How do I need to grow in my knowledge?

The American education system has the lofty goal of instructing every child every day. Culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy is an essential ingredient for equitable practice.