The Importance of Student Background

a man helping a young girl in a hijab with a tablet computer

What do you need to know about a student's background and culture when identifying his or her strengths, challenges, and needs? What factors may make a difference for the child? Learn more from these resources and videos, as well as case studies that highlight experiences of students with diverse backgrounds and levels of schooling.

Featured Articles

Research and Reports

A Cultural, Linguistic, and Ecological Framework for Response to Intervention with English Language Learners

Recommended Resources

Cultural and Linguistic Differences: What Teachers Should Know

From the Center for Parent Information and Resources: The IRIS STAR Legacy modules are meant to help train future teachers, administrators, and other school personnel. This module examines the ways in which culture influences the daily interactions that occur across all classrooms and provides practice for enhancing culturally responsive teaching. This module is a revision of ‘Teachers at the Loom: Weaving Together Culture, Family, and Instruction for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Students.’

Acknowledgements

This resource section was made possible through our partnership with the National Education Association. Additional support was provided by the American Federation of Teachers.