“Teachers are not just instructors of standards, but developers of skills, intellect, identities, criticality, and joy.”
— Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, Cultivating Genius
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an educator is that equitable classrooms are not built by accident — they are intentionally co-constructed with students to create a sense of belonging, celebrate identity, and build community. As we begin the 2025–26 school year, our students, now more than ever, need to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
So, let’s fast forward. It’s the first day of school. You hardly slept the night before, thinking about meeting so many new tiny humans. Those first-day jitters are in full effect. One of your goals is to create an equitable classroom this year. So, where do you begin?
Getting to know your students is a great place to start! There are many ways to do this authentically — in ways that feel true to you and your students. One engaging activity is to have students create an identity web or heart map.
An identity web or heart map allows students to introduce themselves by sharing all the things they want others to know about them. Encourage students to include all parts of their identity — both visible and invisible.
Not only will students have fun writing, drawing, and sharing about themselves, but this also helps them connect with each other and build empathy.
TIP: Don’t forget to create one for yourself and share it with your students! This provides an opportunity for students to make connections with you.
Another effective way to get to know your students is by creating and administering interest forms. These forms help you connect with students on both a personal and academic level.
TIP: You can create a survey on Google Forms or even ask ChatGPT to generate one for you! The key is to know what information you want to collect and tailor your questions accordingly.
Below are two examples of surveys generated using ChatGPT—one focusing on personal interests, the other on academic interests.
One of my favorite ways to build identity is through read-alouds. Choose books with themes of identity and community to spark meaningful conversations. For example:
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal emphasizes the importance of knowing and embracing the roots of your name.
- Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez celebrates pride in one’s ancestry and affirms that identity comes from many places, including heritage, family stories, and personal experiences.
- The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi teaches that names are key to who we are and encourages embracing our uniqueness rather than conforming to others’ expectations.
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson promotes empathy and shows that everyone has something valuable to share.
You can also select books that reflect culture and language. Here are some of my favorites to use throughout the school year for rich classroom conversations:
- I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada — celebrates multicultural identity
- Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina — explores how language can both divide and unite generations
- Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho — teaches children to see their own beauty and feel pride in their heritage
- Hair Love by Matthew Cherry — highlights the importance of celebrating your identity
- Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw — encourages curiosity, empathy, and appreciation for diversity
You can also center equity through classroom structures and daily practices. Below are six ways to create an equitable classroom environment:
1. Co-Creating Classroom Agreements
When students help set norms, they feel ownership over the learning environment.
- Reflect shared values like respect and responsibility
- Use student language to increase clarity and relevance
- Revisit and revise agreements throughout the year
- Display them visually and treat them as living documents
2. Community Circles
Weekly or daily circles help build trust, empathy, and voice.
- Offer space for students to share feelings, celebrations, or concerns
- Use structured turn-taking to ensure every voice is heard
- Promote emotional literacy and deepen class connections
- Use open-ended prompts that invite authentic reflection
3. Mindfulness & Regulation
Every child deserves tools to self-regulate and reset.
- Incorporate breathing or movement breaks into daily routines
- Provide a calm-down corner or visual aids for emotional regulation
- Normalize mindfulness as a shared class practice
- Helps reduce behavior challenges and improve focus
4. Culture Celebrations
Equity means valuing the whole child, including their cultural identity.
- Highlight student and family traditions throughout the year
- Go beyond holidays—celebrate stories, languages, and lived experiences
- Include bilingual and multicultural texts in your classroom library
- Invite students to lead or contribute to classroom events
5. Student of the Week
More than just a fun tradition, it’s an opportunity to amplify student voice and identity.
- Feature student-led presentations, photo displays, or artifacts
- Encourage peers to offer affirmations or compliments
- Include family voices through letters or interviews
- Support multiple ways of sharing to honor all personalities
6. Classroom Jobs
When everyone contributes, everyone belongs.
- Assign meaningful roles based on student interest or classroom needs
- Rotate jobs to ensure equity and exposure
- Use jobs to build leadership, responsibility, and teamwork
- Connect roles to real-world applications (e.g., Tech Manager, Peacekeeper, Greeter)
Before I close, I want to talk about the importance of having a growth mindset. A growth mindset isn’t just about effort—it’s about believing in the brilliance of every child. In her book Unearthing Joy, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad writes,
“A growth mindset in culturally responsive teaching means believing in the brilliance of all students, even when the world tells them otherwise.”
So before the school year begins, ask yourself: Do you truly believe in the brilliance of all students, even when the world tells them otherwise?
We must believe that ALL students are capable of learning and growing. It is our responsibility to hold students to high expectations and celebrate their progress. As we enter this new school year, normalize mistakes within your classroom and treat them as opportunities to learn. Avoid fixed-ability language, and instead teach positive self-talk. This year, let’s commit to building classroom spaces where our students feel seen, heard, challenged, and celebrated.
Wishing you a school year full of community, identity building, and joy.
