Creating Culturally Affirming Spaces: School and Classroom Practices
Join REL West for part one of this two-part webinar series designed to expand knowledge and provide practical evidence-based examples of systems, policies, and practices that are culturally affirming—what they are and what they are not—to inform instruction, school climate-related practices, and everyday decisions that shape the academic and social-emotional well-being of students and their families.
A presentation and panelist discussion will include lessons from research and practice about how in culturally affirming spaces, small practices have big payoffs—pronouncing students’ names correctly, speaking positively about families and communities in front of students, and sharing one’s own intercultural experiences—and hold significant value for students’ academic progress. These spaces encourage meaningful engagement, communicate belonging, validate the lived and historical experiences of students and adults, center culture as a learning vehicle, and promote authentic stakeholder connection.
Watch the archived webinar recording here.
In this webinar, district and site leaders:
- Deepen understanding of culturally affirming school and classroom cultures and climates and how they shape student learning and social and emotional well-being
- Examine practices, policies, and conditions that hinder student belonging and inhibit the academic and social well-being of culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse students
- Learn about promising practices and behaviors that foster culturally affirming schooling experiences for students, families, and staff
This is the first in a two-part webinar series creating culturally affirming spaces to make schools more safe and supportive environments for culturally, linguistically, and gender-diverse students.