Appendix D: Cultural Connection 

This school-wide protocol is similar in structure to our Think-Pair-Share protocol (Appendix A), but with a focus on student cultural expertise and meaning making. 

1. Teacher presents a text on a concept, problem, or issue. The reading and annotation of the text is to be no more than 5-7 minutes (see Appendix E for Annotation Protocol)

2. Teacher creates a prompt for students to create a connection of the concept, problem, or issue with their culture or experience. A simple prompt may be: “This issue connects to my culture or experience in this way……”

 3. Each student thinks about his/her response and writes it in the “Connection to my culture or experience” column.

 4. Student A shares his/her response, Student B actively listens.

 5. Student B paraphrases what Student A said and then writes down what the partner said in the “What my  partner thought about their connection to their culture or experience” column.

 6. Student B shares his/her response, student A actively listens.

 7. Student A paraphrases what Student B said and then writes down what the partner said in the “What my   partner thought about their connection to their culture or experience” column.

8. Students discuss and then reach a consensus on similarities and differences to share with class during a discussion.