Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom: An Equity Framework for Pedagogy

by Adeyemi Stembridge

This exciting book helps educators translate the concept of equity into the context of pedagogy in the K-12 classroom. Providing a practice-oriented framework for understanding what equity entails for both teachers and learners, this book clarifies the theoretical context for equity and shares rich teaching strategies across a range of content areas and age groups. Unpacking six themes to understand Culturally Responsive Education (CRE), this powerful book helps teachers incorporate equity into behaviors, environments, and meaningful learning opportunities. Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom provides specific, practice-based examples to help readers develop a culturally responsive pedagogical mindset for closing equity gaps in student achievement.

Genres: Education, Teaching

224 pages, ebook

Published November 26, 2019

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot out of this book. I especially got a lot out of chapters 3 and 4 (I found first two chapters dense and not-so-reader-friendly, but important in setting up the premise and foundations of the book). Chapter 3 outlined the six themes of culturally responsive education (CRE), which I found a really useful framework to work with. Chapter 4 focused on Planning with Equity in Mind, which has really helpful guiding questions for lesson design. I plan on using the premises from this book to guide my equity work for the upcoming school year. I'm guessing it's a book I will return to often to guide my practice.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like so much has come out the last few years about CRE/CRT/equity the last few years. It can be hard to dig through but in this book Dr. Stembridge gives an easy to understand and implement framework that is based in what we want students to FEEL in the classroom. The 5 questions and the “Dream Exercise” really helped me break down standards and get to the heart of the “so what” that is so easy to lose when you are planning.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly dense and convoluted, just spit it out!! but still had some hidden gems

[Spacek Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Northwest Educational Service District No. 101 highlighted Dr. Stembridge as a guest speaker at a Regional Equity Conference in June 2022. This book was reviewed during the WASA (Washington Association of School Administrators) ILN (Instructional Leadership Network) during the 2021-22 School Year and 2022-23 School Year. Stembridge is a teacher who will speak about his research. Equity is not a ch-equity list, it is to be experienced and focused on each student in the classroom. The author, known as Yemi, makes his point in his book and any teacher is able to operationalize learning experiences in their classroom after experiencing this book.

[Sarah Biggerstaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the most exciting book to read, but the message is powerful. The author adds in some subtle humor throughout the book, which helps to stay engaged. I learned what culturally responsive teaching means, and that it can’t be achieved through a process. Instead, being a culturally responsive educator requires constant practice, continual learning, and striving to be brilliant every single day. I am encouraged and inspired by this book and hope that many educators take the time to learn more about this topic.

[Scott Le Duc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resources for practical application of culturally responsive education in the classroom.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book says a lot without saying much at all. I kept waiting for the ‘a-ha’ moment and it never came. Skimmed over the last two chapters.

[Jennifer Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom: An Equity Framework for Pedagogy" is a transformative guide that every educator should have on their bookshelf. This book masterfully intertwines theory and practice, offering a compelling vision of how culturally responsive teaching can reshape our classrooms into inclusive, engaging, and equitable learning environments.

One particularly transformative practice I've integrated is the concept is "dream planning" at the start of my units of study. I envision in 3-5 years what my students will still know and value. This helps focus my attention on high rigor activities to capture the engagement of every one of my learners.

In a time when the call for equity in education is louder than ever, this book serves as a vital resource for teachers, administrators, and policymakers alike. It’s not just a guide; it’s a call to action for essential shifts in our teaching and planning.

[Buddy Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I read with a learning lab that happened at my school with Dr. Stembridge. For me, this was a deeply shaping book that will inform my teaching. Stembridge provided me with a vision or a framework to teach from. He started with five key questions to ask when planning a unit with an overarching idea that students will respond (mostly) positively to true rigor, being challenged to truly think and exercise their brains. He advocated to start with high rigor on the first day of the first week of school to set the tone for what is expected in the classroom, and then encouraged us to think of ways to celebrate when students actively engage their brains in thinking. I really loved his instruction in this book and in our learning time together.

[Daniela · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the defense of this book, I did *have* to read it for a cohort I have joined this year for Culturally Responsive Education. There were some statements and ideas in there that I agree with inherently and will work to incorporate them into my teaching practice. It also forced me to check in with my current teaching practice to find where I can and will continue to grow and push myself. Learning and education are not static. But good lord, this book was written in academic speak simply for the sake of academic speak. It was repetitive, dense, and though it claims to offer action for the classroom- it still all felt very theoretical and not applicable.

[Lynne Perednia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's heart is definitely in the right place but this is a clunky book that makes it difficult for educators interested in being culturally responsive to the students in their community move forward. Any author who tells readers that if they disagree with them are monsters may be trying for humor, but the stakes are too high to find this device humorous.

[Elisabeth]

Every educator needs to read this book.

[Kathryn K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book to stretch educator's thinking about how to plan lessons that fully engage ALL students.

[Kayla Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for any teacher!

[Carlyn Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

great CRT book! six themes were helpful to organize

[Natalie DeLaat · Rating 3 out of 5]

too many uses of the term “kiddos”

[Adrian Neibauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is much academic literature around Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) and pedagogical practices in the classroom. Educational theorists such as John Dewey’s Democracy and Education (1997), Paolo Freire’s Education for Critical Consciousness (2005), Kenneth Howe’s Equality of Educational Opportunity (1993), and W.E.B. DuBois’ “Talented Tenth”: a passionate belief that African Americans need greater access to higher education (DuBois, 2002, pp. 68-72) educators and critics have tried to understand how a system is unable to adequately service all students. The collective works of Gloria Ladson-Billings, Lisa Delpit, Geneva Gay, and Sonia Nieta have not only contributed to educational equity literature reviews, but have enormously influenced theoretical and practical understandings of CRE.

A racial gap is apparent when one looks at the achievement of White students compared to the achievement of those marginalized such as Black and Latinx-identifying students (Schmidt, 2012). What has become known and accepted as the opportunity gap, can tragically predict a child’s success in public education based solely on skin color (Carter, 2013). How does one “not merely apply theory, but use it to create equity- oriented and meaningful change in ourselves and the systems we’re in “(Gutierrez, 2010, p. 104)?

Dr. Sembridge brilliantly defines educational equity work and synthesizes CRE as a theory of change. Dedicating his life and practice to designing culturally responsive learning experiences, Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom identifies and discusses six themes of CRE and gives teachers authentic planning questions for teachers to plan and teach with an equity mindset. If “equity is an idea that is demonstrated in our work” (p. 5), then Dr. Stembridge embodies a life-long commitment to not only having productive discussions on race and learning, but inspiring educators everywhere to aim for brilliance in the classroom. If you are an educator, administrator, or parent of children in public schools, you need to read this book. Be sure to buy two copies: one to read and one to give to a fellow educator.

[Hilary Ledford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom: An Equity Framework for Pedagogy - yes, I read this for work! One of two of my picks for this quarter's book study series sponsored by my district. A major positive of this novel is that it's written by a person of color and not some well-meaning white person (I've read more than my fair share of those education books). I'd say that it would benefit most those who are newer to the world of culturally responsive education or thinking. I face my usual problem upon finishing this- the need to get those in positions of more power to read this and begin to change our current educational framework. 3.5☆

Read my other reviews on Instagram- @whathilaryreads

[Emma-Kate Schaake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Stembridge has written a text that I view as absolutely core to my practice. To the point where I am shocked when I bring it up and it’s not common knowledge; it encapsulates my why so well. Must read for all educators at every level.