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Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom
"With Learning to Relearn, Sarfo-Mensah has written himself into the canon of scholars who boldly advocate for social justice in schools."
—From the foreword by Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah’s latest book, Learning to Relearn, challenges educators to embark on a transformative journey toward creating classrooms that embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rooted in the principles of anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) education, this book offers a dynamic roadmap for teachers seeking to dismantle systemic biases and foster inclusive spaces that honor intersectional student identities.
Sarfo-Mensah skillfully weaves together theory and practice, providing accessible strategies for cultivating anti-bias, anti-racist pedagogies that address the unique experiences of students navigating multiple layers of identity. From inclusive curriculum development to fostering empathetic classroom discussions, this book empowers educators to navigate the nuanced landscape of supporting identities with intentionality and sensitivity.
Learning to Relearn is not just a call for change; it's a call for unlearning and relearning, encouraging teachers to continually evolve their practices to meet the diverse needs of their students. Through compelling first-person narratives and actionable insights, this book equips educators with the tools to create culturally-affirming classrooms where every student's identity is not just acknowledged but celebrated. This is an indispensable resource for educators committed to shaping classrooms that reflect the true richness of human experiences.
—From the foreword by Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah’s latest book, Learning to Relearn, challenges educators to embark on a transformative journey toward creating classrooms that embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rooted in the principles of anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) education, this book offers a dynamic roadmap for teachers seeking to dismantle systemic biases and foster inclusive spaces that honor intersectional student identities.
Sarfo-Mensah skillfully weaves together theory and practice, providing accessible strategies for cultivating anti-bias, anti-racist pedagogies that address the unique experiences of students navigating multiple layers of identity. From inclusive curriculum development to fostering empathetic classroom discussions, this book empowers educators to navigate the nuanced landscape of supporting identities with intentionality and sensitivity.
Learning to Relearn is not just a call for change; it's a call for unlearning and relearning, encouraging teachers to continually evolve their practices to meet the diverse needs of their students. Through compelling first-person narratives and actionable insights, this book equips educators with the tools to create culturally-affirming classrooms where every student's identity is not just acknowledged but celebrated. This is an indispensable resource for educators committed to shaping classrooms that reflect the true richness of human experiences.
336 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 12, 2025
Many authors default to writing books that they, themselves, would love to read. In Learning to Relearn, Safro-Mensah has delivered so much more than that. He has cracked the code and crafted a masterpiece that is universally engaging and leads us all on a journey to learn how much more we can discover and honor about the learners in our care, each other, and ourselves. Learning to Relearn is more than a guidebook for educators — it is a testament to the power of individual stories. Safro-Mensah is in that tiny percentage of skilled podcast hosts — those who understand the art of conversation, authenticity, and deep listening. As an author, those same qualities shine in Learning to Relearn. It is a stunning tapestry of pedagogical guidance, the stories we should all be listening to, and well-researched wisdom that Safro-Mensah artfully weaves together for us, the lucky readers. Even after you have finished reading it, flipping through this beautifully designed book to locate favorite quotes brings so much learning and joy!
Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming ClassroomKwame Sarfo-Mensah
Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming ClassroomKwame Sarfo-Mensah
April 30, 2025
As a Caribbean American science teacher committed to culturally responsive teaching, Learning to Relearn by Kwame Sarfo-Mensah deeply resonated with me. This book challenges educators to unlearn harmful norms and rebuild classrooms that affirm student identity and culture. Sarfo-Mensah’s honest and reflective voice made me feel seen—not just as a teacher of color, but as someone striving to make learning meaningful for all students.
Though I teach science, the book’s insights apply seamlessly to any subject. It pushed me to think more critically about how I present content, whose voices I highlight, and how I ensure my students—many of whom are also Black and Brown—feel seen in both the curriculum and the classroom culture.
Most importantly, it reminded me that culturally responsive teaching is not a checklist, but a mindset rooted in reflection, empathy, and continuous growth. This book is an essential read for educators who want to create spaces where all students feel valued, seen, and empowered.
Though I teach science, the book’s insights apply seamlessly to any subject. It pushed me to think more critically about how I present content, whose voices I highlight, and how I ensure my students—many of whom are also Black and Brown—feel seen in both the curriculum and the classroom culture.
Most importantly, it reminded me that culturally responsive teaching is not a checklist, but a mindset rooted in reflection, empathy, and continuous growth. This book is an essential read for educators who want to create spaces where all students feel valued, seen, and empowered.
September 2, 2025
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah’s Learning to Relearn is a thoughtful and deeply personal exploration of what it means to teach with equity, intention, and authenticity. The book resonated with both my personal and professional experiences, and more importantly, it provided practical tools I could immediately implement within my school community.
Chapter 7 struck a particular chord as Sarfo-Mensah reflected on his journey as a first-generation immigrant. His honesty and vulnerability offered a powerful reminder of how identity shapes the educational experience. I especially valued his explicit, practical strategies for affirming student identities — approaches I have already shared with my school community. They have been an excellent way to begin the year, establishing a strong foundation for belonging and inclusion.
Sarfo-Mensah offers more than theory; he offers courage, actionable tools, and a roadmap for educators committed to justice. Learning to Relearn is a book I know I will continue to revisit for both inspiration and practical guidance.
Chapter 7 struck a particular chord as Sarfo-Mensah reflected on his journey as a first-generation immigrant. His honesty and vulnerability offered a powerful reminder of how identity shapes the educational experience. I especially valued his explicit, practical strategies for affirming student identities — approaches I have already shared with my school community. They have been an excellent way to begin the year, establishing a strong foundation for belonging and inclusion.
Sarfo-Mensah offers more than theory; he offers courage, actionable tools, and a roadmap for educators committed to justice. Learning to Relearn is a book I know I will continue to revisit for both inspiration and practical guidance.
January 18, 2025
As an international school math educator, I’m always searching for ways to better support the diverse identities of my students. Kwame Sarfo-Mensah’s Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom delivers exactly that.
What makes this book stand out are the chapter guides (https://learning2relearn.com/), which break down key concepts into actionable steps. The way Sarfo-Mensah organizes resources into digestible, themed chapters makes it both a compelling cover-to-cover read and a resource to revisit for specific strategies.
This book doesn’t just inspire; it equips educators with practical tools to foster culturally affirming classrooms where every student feels seen and valued. Highly recommended for anyone committed to equity and inclusion in their teaching practice!
What makes this book stand out are the chapter guides (https://learning2relearn.com/), which break down key concepts into actionable steps. The way Sarfo-Mensah organizes resources into digestible, themed chapters makes it both a compelling cover-to-cover read and a resource to revisit for specific strategies.
This book doesn’t just inspire; it equips educators with practical tools to foster culturally affirming classrooms where every student feels seen and valued. Highly recommended for anyone committed to equity and inclusion in their teaching practice!
January 8, 2025
This book is a fantastic resource for educators. Sarfo-Mensah does a phenomenal job synthesizing research and narrative accounts for what is effectively an accessible dissertation on identity and justice in the first half of the book. The second half of the book contains numerous implications for educator practice. The resources and references lists are unbelievably thorough and useful. This is a book I wish I had in my teacher prep program, and I’m incredibly grateful it exists now. I have learned so much from reading the book, and the learning will continue as I engage with all of the resources provided. Thank you for creating this!
January 18, 2025
I bought this book after meeting Sarfo-Mensah at a conference. I knew if even a small portion of his compassion and dynamic personality was in the book it would be great and I wasn't wrong. This book is perfect for people on any level of their ABAR education journey. It's filled with information from the author's personal experience, other educators, and scholars. It also gives a variety of recommendations for other resources on each topic so you can continue learning. It is a great addition to every educator's library!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews