Teaching from the Roots: Identity in the Classroom

Every student enters the classroom carrying a story. Their family traditions, cultural background, language, and lived experiences shape how they learn, communicate, and engage with the world around them. When students feel seen and respected by both teachers and peers, they are more willing to participate and take intellectual risks towards their academic betterment.

Teachers and tutors who recognize what students bring with them are better able to use these roots as a foundation for learning by bridging students' personal identities and the classroom. On National Roots Day, educators face the reminder that a student's academic growth is no isolated task: It is always tied to their identity, voice, and sense of belonging.

Identity as a Learning Tool

A student's cultural and personal background can provide a seamless entry point for discussion and critical thinking. When learners connect content to their own experiences, they are participating in active meaning-making: Through expressive exercises like storytelling, reflection, and personal response, they also strengthen comprehension, writing fluency, and confidence across subjects.

Try This in Your Classroom:

Invite students to begin a writing assignment with a personal connection. Try prompts like "This reminds me of..." or "In my experience..." to help students find their voice before tackling academic analysis.

Celebrating Without Tokenizing

Creating inclusive learning spaces means weaving diverse perspectives into everyday classroom instruction, not isolating diversity to special occasions. Educators can signal the normality and value of difference by incorporating diverse literature and historical examples in the classroom.

Try This in Your Classroom:

Offer choice in reading or research topics, allowing students to select texts or examples that reflect their interests, cultues, or family histories while meeting class learning objectives.

Building Student Voices

Conversation often precedes strong writing. Make sure your students have space to talk through ideas, ask questions, and share their perspectives in order to deepen their thinking.

Try This in Your Classroom:

Preface writing exercises with short discussion sessions with a partner or group. Encourage students to explain their thinking aloud before putting it on paper.

The Educator's Role: Facilitator, Not Expert

Teachers and tutors don't need to know everything about every culture. The goal is to model curiosity, listening, and respect among your students. By asking thoughtful questions and encouraging reflection, educators help students understand that their stories matter in academic spaces.

Try This in Your Classroom:

End each lesson with a reflective question: "What part of today's lesson connected to something you already knew or experienced?"

Academic success grows strongest when learning is personalized and rooted in who students are. Our tutors at ILMS intentionally build instruction around students' identities, strengths, and voices to develop their confidence alongside critical skills. By empowering students to bring their whole selves into learning, we help students thrive in the classroom and beyond. To learn more, contact us at (708) 581-8617 or ilms_office@ilmstutor.com or book your free consultation online today!