Overview

Energize STEM teaching to inspire deep learning and true belonging This book addresses the urgent need to reimagine STEM classrooms as inclusive, justice-centered spaces where cultural identity becomes a pathway to deeper learning. Dr. Flake guides readers through the Four Dimensions of Cultural Identity—Essence, Engagement, Expression, and Epoch—providing a research-based framework for understanding both educator and student identities. Key topics include critical self-reflection for transformative teaching, designing culturally affirming STEM lessons, building supportive learning communities, and developing liberatory agency that empowers both teachers and students. This comprehensive resource includes: Critical Reflection Journal with structured prompts to help educators explore their own cultural identities and leverage their assets for transformative teaching practice Teaching Tools, such as the Justice-Centered Tasks (JCT) Mode, which offer practical lesson planning resources to integrate cultural identity affirmation with academic rigor and student agency Authentic teacher vignettes and real-classroom examples from diverse K-5 educators who have successfully implemented culturally affirming STEM practices Ready-to-use lesson plans for both K-2 and 3-5 classrooms, complete with implementation guidance and alignment to standards Educators will learn to recognize and embrace their own cultural identities as powerful tools for creating STEM classrooms where diversity drives innovation, belonging, and academic success—ensuring every student can see themselves as a capable STEM learner.

Full Product Details

9781071928042

Table of Contents

Reviews

Sherita Flake powerfully conveys what is possible when STEM teachers show up as their whole selves and create space for their students to do the same. Creating Inclusive STEM Classrooms is packed with robust research and sample lessons that will speak to all readers. The principles and strategies outlined in this book align with how honoring students’ identity supports the brain’s inherent needs for deep meaningful learning. -- Liesl McConchie * San Diego, CA * This book is a much-needed resource for K–5 STEM educators who are committed to engaging in critical self-reflection, deeply understanding their own identities, and supporting their personal and professional growth. As a devoted parent and educator with much success in the STEM realm, Sherita Flake provides lessons and implementation guidance from elementary educators who have their boots on the ground and are doing the critical work of justice-oriented, liberatory STEM education. -- Christopher C. Jett * Atlanta, GA * Creating Inclusive STEM Classrooms is a must-read for K–5 teachers. By incorporating the cultural identity of students, Sherita Flake presents a way for every student to shine. Full of strategies, lessons, and research, this book provides a guide for teachers to identify exclusionary practices and cultivate a teaching environment that honors all students, including students with ADHD and autism. Every teacher would benefit from reading this book. -- Ruth Hughes * Columbia, MD * Sherita Flake has crafted a text that is timely and important during this moment in STEM education. She is adept at taking complex theoretical ideas and making them actionable. This text is historically rich and offers guided reflection for ALL teachers, especially culturally diverse STEM teachers who are often on the margins in education. The sample lessons are steeped in research, yet accessible, and the journal prompts support teachers in moving from reflection to action. -- Toya Jones Frank * Fairfax, VA * Through a deep dive into culture, Sherita Flake argues for pedagogy that integrates students’ cultural background into STEM teaching. She not only examines the theoretical nature of culture and learning but also provides practical applications to guide STEM teachers in implementing culturally aligned teaching. This book will be an invaluable resource for STEM educators who care about unlocking opportunity and ensuring access for culturally and linguistically diverse learners. -- Altheria Caldera * Barnesville, GA * Sherita Flake offers a practical guide that explores STEM education through identity, belonging, and agency. Grounded in justice and cultural affirmation, this book empowers educators to create liberatory classrooms where every child′s brilliance is recognized and nurtured. A must-read for teachers committed to equity and joy in STEM learning. -- Edmund Adjapong * South Orange, NJ * This powerful resource reimagines early education as a space for belonging, identity, and liberation. Grounded in justice-centered teaching, it empowers educators to nurture every child′s voice, creativity, and curiosity while transforming classrooms into inclusive communities where difference is celebrated and all learners are seen, valued, and affirmed. -- Antonio Ellis * Washington, DC * Readers will be taken on a deep dive into the intricacies of how one’s cultural identity shapes STEM teaching and learning. This is an instruction manual on how to improve both. -- Deanna McClung * Elkhorn, WI * This book allows teachers to investigate how their identities, and those of their students, affect STEM learning, and encourages them to leverage their understanding for better learning. -- Amanda Clapp * Cullowhee, NC *

Author Information

Dr. Sherita Flake, a Memphis native, is a Senior Professorial Lecturer and MAT Program Director at American University. She is dedicated to urban education and is known for her cultural identity research in STEM and leadership. As a wife and mother of three daughters, her family′s experiences underscored the importance of cultural identities and agency. Dr. Flake′s research and personal journey as a Black woman in STEM with Autism Level I and ADHD influenced her conceptual framework on cultural identity, benefiting historically marginalized groups. Her findings have been widely received and adopted both nationally and internationally. Before American University, she served as Clinical Faculty of Mathematics at Johns Hopkins University and was an instructional leader in K-12 school districts across Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, California, and DC. She actively participated in educational committees, including ETS Standards Setting Committees, Maryland State Department of Education Expert Review Team, and OSSE’s Review Team, and earned prestigious awards such as the Governor′s Award of Excellence in Virginia, EPIC Gold status in Tennessee, and the Bryan K. Ingram Award for Leadership at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Flake, along with her youngest daughter, Makenzie, co-authored ""Stem Includes Me,"" a publication aiming to help all students discover their identities in STEAM careers.

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