What is "culturally sustaining pedagogy"?

Culturally sustaining pedagogy is an educational approach that actively seeks to maintain and enhance the cultural identity of students while simultaneously fostering cultural pluralism within educational contexts. This pedagogy recognizes the importance of students' backgrounds and experiences, aiming to not only acknowledge but also celebrate and integrate diverse cultural perspectives into the learning environment. It emphasizes that education should help sustain the unique cultural practices and languages of students from various backgrounds, thereby creating a more inclusive and equitable learning experience.

By focusing on cultural pluralism, culturally sustaining pedagogy encourages educational practices that support all students, ensuring that they retain pride in their cultural identities while receiving a quality education. This approach challenges the notion of a one-size-fits-all curriculum often seen in traditional education systems and instead promotes diversity as a valuable asset in learning.