By Ariel A. Asouzu - Dreher High School | Richland School District One
Summary: The author, reflecting on their experiences as an African American teenager, notes a lack of relatable characters in classic literature, which continues to affect student engagement today. As an Assistant Principal, they observe that students often find English classes boring and unconnected to their lives. To improve this, they emphasize culturally relevant teaching methods, highlighting three key strategies: connecting with students through understanding their backgrounds, encouraging them to share their experiences, and acknowledging diverse learning styles. By using these approaches, educators can create a more inclusive and engaging classroom environment. Ultimately, culturally responsive teaching bridges the gap between curriculum and students' identities, making learning more meaningful for all.
Can you recall book studies in your English classes when you were younger? Can you remember relating to any of the characters?
As an African American teenager, my answer to the above questions are: Yes, I remember all of my book studies throughout school, and no, I couldn’t relate to a single character in any of the books. Studying the literary works of Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, and others was informative, but it wasn’t interesting. Nothing in the texts was relevant to my identity or my experiences.
Fast forward to the present. As an Assistant Principal, when I am conferencing with students about class disruptions, the common explanations are: “That class is so boring. I don’t understand anything in the book. Nothing in that class relates to me.” All these feelings are completely understandable; however, the disruption is not, but I understand.
I recently spent time with my school’s English Language Learner (ELL) cohort, a math course, and a few grade-level English classes. I chose these specific classes because the teachers do a great job of using culturally relevant teaching methods to engage their learners. Throughout my visits to their classes, each time there was active engagement and total class participation, a good combination for student learning!
These are the strategies that were used that I would like to share with fellow educators:
#1 Connect with your students and make them feel welcome in the classroom.
Take the time to make genuine connections with your group by learning their interests, aspirations, learning styles, and/or where they are from. Use what you learn about your students to drive your instructional choices.
You can make a student feel welcome into the room by not only learning about them but also providing supplies that are relevant to their identity. Classroom library selections, supplies, and visuals are excellent ways to acknowledge student diversity.
Example: The ELL cohort teacher chose a literary work set in a neighborhood like the students’ own. The students also resonated with the characters in the book, and analyzing the text excited them because they saw themselves within the text. Every student participated by reading aloud or sharing their thoughts. It was truly wonderful to watch students enjoy learning and incorporate their own experiences.
Example: One of the math instructors creates word problems using relevant information (a student’s name, an interest the student may have, or a topic relevant to the entire group). This simple gesture grasps student’s attention immediately and will also increase student learning.
#2 Encourage all students to contribute their experience/knowledge
Getting to know students and having the right classroom supplies are great first steps, but they are not enough. The teacher should create an environment that welcomes all students to contribute their experiences and knowledge. A safe environment that acknowledges diversity also positively impacts student learning.
Example: English students were learning about transcendentalism. The teacher gave an assignment asking students to find realistic examples via their own experiences, pop culture, and/or current events to show their understanding of the term. Not only did this approach simplify a difficult task, but it incorporated students’ experiences and perspectives, yielding positive results for student learning.
Example: During a book study, students were asked to identify a word, phrase, and sentence within the text that resonated with them. The students then had to discuss the relevance of their choices with another student. This activity helped students analyze the text and fostered an environment where they could learn from one another’s experiences.
#3 Acknowledge different learning styles
No two students are the same. Therefore, differentiation is necessary to meet the needs of each student. Here are some examples of strategies for addressing different learning styles:
Gimkit
Peer Teaching
Visual Aids
Movement in the classroom
Video Examples
Puzzling
These techniques not only acknowledge the different learning needs that students may have, but they also increase engagement and overall retention of information.
Culturally Responsive Teaching isn’t difficult. It is simply bridging the gap between the curriculum and student’s experiences. Our students in school have and are experiencing a lot, so we must evolve our approach to teaching students. By connecting with students, encouraging their contributions, and acknowledging diverse learning styles, we can create a classroom environment where every student feels valued and engaged.
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About the Author
Ariel Asouzu currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Dreher High School. Prior to this role, she served as a high school counselor. Her administrative and counseling roles have given her the opportunity to provide academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to the students she serves. Ariel is passionate about student success; she loves to create connections with her students and parents. Connect with Ariel at ariel.asouzu@richlandone.org.
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