---
title: "Be Intentional: Culturally Relevant Teaching — My Teaching | Kaplan Early Learning Company"
description: "Dr. Tonia Durden challenges educators to put beliefs into action to support culturally relevant teaching at home and in the classroom in the final installment of her series Times Up!: Be Equitable."
image: https://blog.kaplanco.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/equity-culturally-relevant-my-teaching_a-1-1.jpg
---

# Be Intentional: Culturally Relevant Teaching — My Teaching

AdminFebruary 23, 2021[Inclusive Classroom](https://blog.kaplanco.com/dev/tag/inclusive-classroom), [Culturally Relevant Teaching](https://blog.kaplanco.com/dev/tag/culturally-relevant-teaching), [Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion](https://blog.kaplanco.com/dev/tag/diversity-equity-inclusion)3 minute read

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Please note, this is the fourth installment in Dr. Tonia Durden's blog series ***Times Up!: Be Equitable***. If you are new to this series, we recommend that you first read [***A Shield of Armor***](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-shield-of-armor), [***Be Aware: Confronting My -isms***](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-be-aware), [***Be Intentional: Culturally Relevant Teaching — My Culture***](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-be-intentional-culture) and [***Be Intentional: Culturally Relevant Teaching — My Beliefs***](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-culturally-relevant-teaching).

Dear reader,  
On any given carefree Saturday morning, who are you? My answer would be:

- I am a wife.
- I am a mother.
- I am a loyal friend.
- I am an avid mystery novel reader.
- I am a dancer.

When you wake up on Monday morning and prepare for "work," who are you? My answer would be:

- I am a wife.
- I am a mother.
- I am a loyal friend.
- I am an avid mystery novel reader.
- I am a dancer.
- I am a culturally relevant teacher.

As educators, we are often encouraged to implement teaching that is developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, anti-bias, and so forth. However, are we ever asked ***to be***? It is easier to say I teach in a culturally relevant way than to affirmatively say **I AM** a culturally relevant teacher. By saying **you are** something adds a different level of responsibility and expectation. When you take ownership of ***being*** something, like a friend, an infant teacher, a leader, this identity becomes the lens (both consciously and subconsciously) you use every day and in every interaction.

Therefore, I ask you reader, who are you? Are you a teacher who implements culturally relevant teaching or are you a ***culturally relevant teacher***?

### Are you . . .

- Equitable?
- Critically Reflective?
- Striving towards excellence in teaching and learning?
- Unapologetically culturally relevant and responsive?

### Do you . . .

- Start with children's culture and language(s)?
- See all children as capable?
- Intentionally address systemic racism and educational inequities?
- Have high expectations for all children?
- Learn from children and families?

If you are, or aspire to be, a ***culturally relevant teacher***, I invite you on another journey with me as I introduce a new series titled ***Dear CRT***.

The following are topic areas that will be addressed in the new series, ***Dear CRT***:

#### Dear CRT:

- Classroom Environment
- Responsive Interactions
- Child Guidance & Supports
- Approaches to Learning
- Curriculum
- Assessment
- Family & Community Connections
- Advocacy

In the cliché Shakespearean spirit, *To be or not to be*, is truly the question.

### About the Author

**Tonia Durden, PhD**, is a clinical associate professor of early childhood and elementary education and is a program coordinator at the Georgia State University College of Education and Human Development. She is also a co-author of the book [*Don't Look Away: Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms*](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/33461/dont-look-away-embracing-anti-bias-classrooms-paperback).

### Explore This Series

[A Shield of Armor](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-shield-of-armor)   
[Be Aware: Confronting My -isms](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-be-aware)   
[Be Intentional: Culturally Relevant Teaching — My Culture](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-be-intentional-culture)   
[Be Intentional: Culturally Relevant Teaching — My Beliefs](https://blog.kaplanco.com/ii/equity-culturally-relevant-teaching)

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