About This

This article emphasizes the many issues that take place within the educational system. Due to a foundation of colonized curricula, racist teaching, and a lack of cultural awareness in America’s education system, students are deprived of a just and inclusive education. Within this source, you will find evidence of the injustices that are embedded in the system. However, you will also be introduced to some techniques that are meant to aid in rebuilding the educational system in such a way that both educators and students can benefit from it. There are techniques listed such as “Self-Assessment Guide Questions” for every strategy in decolonizing teaching, that may help an educator work to better understand and learn how to decolonize their teaching, thus creating a more effective anti-racist, inclusive, and cultural aware space in the classroom.

In the Classroom 

Implementing anti-racist teachings that uphold the decolonization of the curricula which has been forced into America’s educational system is essential. Some of the ways in which decolonized and anti-racist teaching can be implemented in the classroom include the following methods: 

• Be aware of the privilege you have and listen closely to the needs of your students. 

• Assess yourself and your knowledge of culture, inclusiveness, and justice. 

• Be transparent with your students and point out the truths of the injustices and colonization of the texts that you may be working with. Also, use more texts written by BIPOC to emphasize the importance of cultural inclusivity (this can be especially useful to English teachers).

• Ensure that your students feel comfortable with everything that is being taught to them and allow them a chance to express any concerns, distastes and/or questions to help fuel their knowledge and understanding of the subject. 

• Acknowledge that many students may not always relate to the colonized teachings that are engraved in their textbooks and other class materials. 

• Teach your students to implement their knowledge in the real world and in society. 

Among the many steps that can be taken to improve the education of our students, the ones listed above are only a few. Better preparing ourselves as educators means providing a better education for our students!

About This

In this article, we learn about the experiences of Jarvis R. Givens, an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Givens writes about his former Black educators and the impact that they had in his life. Through his story, we learn about the many influential and positive teachings of Black educators, later revealing the lack of such type of education in our present system. For example, presently, many students do not get a chance to learn about Black history and that hinders their cultural awareness all around. Of course, a lack of this type of teaching has also led to a lack of anti-racist teaching. Dr. Givens writes about this issue in depth and presents the significance of Black history and its implementation in the educational system and its curricula. 

In the Classroom

In order to maintain an anti-racist classroom and to better implement these teachings of the importance of cultural awareness, it is crucial for educators to teach about Black history. In the process of anti-racist teaching, an educator must be able to teach about the real history of people of color and the role that they play in education. Here are some ways in which teaching about this matter can become more relevant in the classroom, thus helping all students understand and helping students of color learn more about their roots: 

• Story-telling and using texts that are inclusive of Black history. 

• Incorporate Black authors and their wonderful works. 

• Use literary pieces that are relatable to your students of color. 

• Ensure that every student is aware of the history of Black people and its significance today. 

• Do not be afraid to teach about the social issues that currently surround people of color. 

All in all, encourage Black history in the classroom, for its long-term influences are ones that every student can benefit from. 

About This

“Culture in the Classroom” is a resource fully equipped to explain to its audience the importance of cultural awareness in the classroom and exactly how to implement it. As it is divided into different sections to better express the cultural needs of students, this article presents topics such as “Overcoming Stereotypes,” “Culturally Relevant Curriculum,” and “Honoring Home Languages.” Not only does this piece dive into the issues that derive from a lack of cultural awareness, a lack of relating with students on a cultural level, and the ineffective ideal of color-blindness amongst educators, but it also includes videos, providing information on how to better educate students while successfully being culturally aware under the topics listed above. 

In the Classroom

To better connect these topics to the classroom, an English classroom, specifically, there are ways in which this article approaches the idea. One of the main and most effective ways of implementing cultural awareness in the classroom, would be to use diverse texts. Upholding diversity is essential in creating cultural awareness. In an English class, a teacher may use some of the following texts to better diversify their curriculum and maintain a positive approach to cultural diversity and awareness: 

1. Same but Different by Holly Robinson Peete, RJ Peete, and Ryan Elizabeth Peete

2. The Round House by Louise Erdrich

3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

These are only a few among the many books that can and should be brought into the classroom to raise cultural awareness. In the same way, writing, for example, can improve by asking students to write about their experiences with culture. Teaching students to write about the ordinary, boring themes that are rooted in the curriculum can deprive them from learning more about social and cultural aspects of life. Connecting them with more diverse topics is the way to go.

About This

“English Language Learners: Culture, Equity, and Language,” is a video that reveals the experiences of some educators and their personal pasts being English Language Learners. The insight that this video provides is crucial to better understand what English Language Learners experience more often than not in the classroom. Some students are isolated when they are affected by language barriers and thus receive a less significant education than other students who are English speakers. Not only does this affect students socially, academically, emotionally, and mentally, but it also deprives them of reaching any aspect of cultural appreciation and awareness. Some of the individuals interviewed in this video depict their lives as English Language Learners and how their experiences affected them personally. It is said that for some, their native language became unwanted or undesired because of their “punishment” of isolation or different treatment based on the language barriers in schools. There are so many ways in which culture, equity, and language are diminished and hindered within the educational system. However, as the National Education Association reflects in this video, preparing educators for a more inclusive and diverse classroom environment is essential and a very effective way to make room for an equitable education for all students.

In the Classroom

Bringing cultural awareness to the classroom includes upholding and implementing equity, culture, and language in the classroom. The body of students that makes up our classrooms will always include individuals who are English Language Learners and the role that they play in the classroom is significant. For example, teachers are not only educating these students, but they are also being educated by those same students. Leaving yourself room to learn from your students is a central aspect of being an upstanding educator. Some ways in which an educator can produce a classroom that is culturally aware of English Language Learners and their values as students is to be inclusive in every aspect of the word, ensuring that your English language learner students are participating equally in every activity that is held. This ensures that they are learning and are not being excluded from any classroom activities. Making lessons culturally relevant to these students is another vital step in the right direction. The goal is not only to be culturally aware, but to also create culturally competent environments for all students, including English Language Learners. Valuing the importance of every student’s culture and language and their experiences as diverse learners is an important way of becoming an outstanding educator and helper to each and every student. 

About This

Dionne Dans dives into the inspiring realities of student activism and the role that it has played in history and the role that it continues to play in society presently. By presenting many different examples of activism among high school students, this writing piece truly demonstrates the importance and significance of activism and its influential effects on all students of the world and their educational systems. In America, there have been a plentiful amount of student activists who have fought and continue to fight for their rights as students and for equitable changes within the system. Dans provides evidence on how their impact has transformed education and how their work must be taken as motivation to continue to work on bettering the education system in this country. There were many moments and events in history that have been built upon by students. Some of these movements include Brown v. Board of Education, Black Lives Matter, and organizations such as NAACP, SNCC, CORE, Young Lords, Black Panthers, among many others. Clearly, movements and organizations like these have been created with an inspiring purpose of transforming an unjust society and school systems, into ones that are much more productive. 

In the Classroom

How do we help inspire and bring up student activists in our classrooms and schools? 

Transparency is imperative when it comes to education. When an educator includes real-life scenarios in daily lessons and allows their students the opportunity to learn more about social issues and the important things in life, many students will rise in activism. Preparing student activists is essential to transforming this country’s education system. It creates paths to better education -- equality and equity in education. Turning normal lessons into ones that help better students’ understanding of the real world and what social issues surround them is an extremely important step to take in order to provide better education and create brighter futures in a diverse and inclusive society. Create lessons that incorporate the reality of oppression, inequitable opportunities, and social injustices. By doing this, activism finds its way into the hearts of these students who truly wish to make a difference in the world.