Student Identity Is Complex. Here’s How to Honor It (Opinion)

In today’s educational landscape, the importance of lifting up student identities in the classroom cannot be overstated. Recognizing and celebrating the diverse identities of students not only promotes empathy and understanding but also empowers students to advocate for themselves. One powerful way to accomplish this is through the use of “All About Me” books.

At EnCompass Academy, an EL Education partner school in East Oakland, California, students are encouraged to create their own “My Compass Guide” books. These books serve as a platform for students to delve into their personal and familial histories, share their hopes and dreams, and map out their family’s origins. By sharing these unique books with their school and local community, students are able to build confidence, self-awareness, and expertise in their own stories, setting them on a path towards becoming active citizen scholars.

The My Compass Guide project is a prime example of how schools can tap into the wealth of knowledge and experiences that students bring with them from their families and communities. By honoring these stories and supporting students’ well-being and learning, schools can create a culture of belonging, agency, and purpose. This approach not only validates students’ identities but also helps them feel whole by bringing their full selves to their educational experiences.

Similarly, Arbor-Vitae Woodruff School, another EL Education partner in Woodruff, Wisconsin, is dedicated to empowering students to make a positive impact and achieve personal greatness. With a focus on character development, mastery of content and skills, and high-quality work, the school also places a strong emphasis on understanding and respecting the Indigenous tribes of Wisconsin. Through direct connections with tribe members and immersive learning experiences, students at Arbor-Vitae Woodruff School gain a deeper understanding of the native people who historically and currently inhabit their lands.

By engaging in projects like Better World Day, where students learn to introduce themselves in Ojibwe, participate in community-garden projects, and create artwork with Ojibwe symbols, students at Arbor-Vitae Woodruff School are able to immerse themselves in the cultural and linguistic experiences of the Ojibwe people. This culturally responsive approach to education not only enriches students’ understanding of their community but also gives them a more expansive view of the world.

In conclusion, “All About Me” books and similar projects provide students with the opportunity to explore and celebrate their identities in a meaningful and transformative way. By integrating students’ personal stories, histories, and cultural backgrounds into the curriculum, schools can create a more inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. Embracing diverse identities not only enriches the educational experience but also fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, and agency among students, setting them on a path towards success in school and beyond.

Perhaps most importantly, the incredible learning conversations that take place in these identity and relationship-prioritized learning pathways illuminate our shared humanity found in seeking an understanding of another’s experience while deepening our understanding of ourselves. Encouraging students to tell their own stories—sharing who they are and what is important to them—supports individual identity development and cultivates the relational capacity of students and educators to sit with difference.

This support of a wide array of experiences and perspectives through storytelling is the meaning-making process and nourishment students and teachers need to develop as learners and people. Storytelling is also the antidote to many systemic cultural practices that can dissuade us from tapping our cultural collective interdependent potential.

‘Sharing Stories Is Foundational’

Becky Corr is a coordinator for the Language, Culture, and Equity Department in Colorado’s Douglas County school district and the owner of EdSpark Consulting. She develops and leads family, school, and community partnerships; professional learning, and coaching opportunities:

Classroom environments that honor student identities create spaces for belonging—for students and families alike. In the words of Brené Brown, “Teachers are the guardians of spaces that allow students to breathe and be curious and explore the world and be who they are without suffocation.” Building classroom environments that honor student identities supports deeper empathy and understanding among students as well as higher achievement and well-being.

Teachers are not alone in creating these spaces. When practitioners partner with families to create environments that honor students’ stories and identities, students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. There are many benefits for teachers as well. Teachers who have a focus on partnerships report higher levels of satisfaction with their profession because they are spending less time on behavioral challenges and the relationships they have with caregivers are positive. When educators, schools, caregivers, and the community have established positive partnerships, everyone wins.

Three big ideas lay the foundation for the strategies we’ll explore: Two-way communication, sharing parents’ stories, and honoring multilingualism. These big ideas support trust-building with students and caregivers, which is necessary for students to share their stories and what’s important to them.

Two-Way Communication

Teachers have a lot on their plates, so it’s important to focus on some high-yield, quick strategies that will pay dividends and save time in the long run. One such strategy is to ask parents to write the teacher a letter or create an audio recording. Ask parents to share about their child, their interests, and anything that’s important for the teacher to know. This video from Colorin Colorado gives an example of one parent letter and how the teacher got to know more about the child and her identity. Tools like Google Translate and the Say Hi app are helpful with all caregivers but especially those who are multilingual.

The app, Talking Points, can be used by parents and teachers to communicate in multiple languages, and it promotes two-way communication throughout the year. It can be easily used to send positive text messages to families, which is another high-yield strategy according to the Flamboyan Foundation.

You can also find more resources at Education Week.

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Communication is fundamental to building trust in any relationship, and this is especially true in the teacher-parent dynamic. Effective communication strategies can make teachers’ lives a bit easier by opening the lines of communication in positive ways. Here are some strategies that can help teachers build trust with parents and caregivers.

One powerful way to open the lines of communication is to share parents’ stories. By inviting parents to share their experiences and perspectives, teachers can gain valuable insights into the lives of their students and families. For example, at an English-language development celebration in our district, parents shared stories of their journeys to the United States and the challenges they faced as immigrants. These stories not only helped educators understand the experiences of their students but also helped build empathy and trust between teachers and parents.

Another strategy is to honor multilingualism in the classroom. Encouraging students to use their full linguistic repertoire can help them feel valued and respected for their language skills. Teachers can create opportunities for students to use all the languages they know, whether it’s by labeling classroom objects in multiple languages or encouraging students to discuss a topic in different languages. By honoring multilingualism, teachers can help students feel proud of their language abilities and celebrate their diverse cultural backgrounds.

By sharing stories and honoring multilingualism, teachers can create a classroom environment that supports student identities and fosters trust between teachers, students, and parents. These practices are not just optional extras; they are essential components of effective communication and relationship-building in education. By implementing these strategies in small but meaningful ways, teachers can lay the foundation for a positive and trusting relationship with their students and their families. Over the last 12 years, this blog has been a treasure trove of highlights and valuable content. If you happened to miss any of the key moments from the first 12 years, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Below is a categorized list of some of the most memorable moments and must-read posts from the blog’s history.

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