Cultural Identities in the Classroom and Engagement

Cultural identities play a most significant role in engaging and motivating students in schooling, both locally and globally. I have argued in myZajda, J. books (Zajda, 2021, 2022, 2003) that student’s identity is on of key factors in engagement and learning. Student’s identity refers to cultural, social, emotional, and behavioural factors. It defines student’s self-concept, and self-esteem. How students feel about themselves, and whether they feel that they belong, and feel that they are accepted, defines their classroom interaction and their levels of engagement. Unless students feel good and positive, and are motivated by their teachers, they are not likely to be interested, or committed to learning.