Date Approved
8-14-2026
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education-Literacy Studies: Reading (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Elizabeth Stolle
Academic Year
2025/2026
Abstract
Black Americans remain disadvantaged within today’s current education system. Teachers are not always equipped with equitable resources and teaching practices to effectively teach literacy to historically marginalized groups, where cultural differences are complex. When teachers utilize a culturally informed pedagogy that values students’ cultural identities, personal and academic achievement are enhanced. Culturally informed instruction builds upon previous research by Gloria Ladson-Billings, Geneva Gay, and Gholdy Muhammad. This project is designed to support teachers when working alongside culturally diverse students. The resources created in this project are intended to create positive and equitable learning experiences for Black students. These students deserve to feel valued in our education system, and this project is one step towards addressing a long-standing matter in the United States education system.
ScholarWorks Citation
Grimm, Samantha, "Building Culturally Informed Classrooms Through Professional Learning" (2026). Masters Projects. 776.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/776
