When Culture Shows Up Differently in the Classroom
S.N.A.P. Coaching Framework
About the S.N.A.P. Method™ : The S.N.A.P. Method™ is a reflective framework created for teachers navigating the real world.
“Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” — James 1:19
Respond with understanding rather than assumptions.
A New Year, A New Opportunity to See Differently
A new school year is here: fresh rosters, crisp notebooks, color-coded planners, and polished lesson plans. We spend hours arranging classrooms, aligning standards, and preparing content to give students our best. But as we prepare what to teach, do we pause to consider who we’ll meet?
Behind every name is a story, a culture, and a set of experiences that don’t always fit neatly into our plans. Some students will arrive eager and open; others may carry invisible burdens like trauma, anxiety, cultural differences, or mistrust from past school experiences.
It’s easy to focus on curriculum and routines, but our greatest impact often comes from how we respond to the people in the room, not just how we present the material.
This year, let’s start with more than seating charts and syllabi. Let’s start with awareness, with the intention to see beyond behavior, beyond first impressions, and beyond our own assumptions. While we prepare students for learning, they’re also deciding whether to trust us. That trust begins when they feel seen.
Before You Assume, Ask Why
You give a direction, and a student responds in a tone you read as disrespectful. Another avoids eye contact. A parent misses conferences. The thought creeps in: They must not care.
But what if it’s not defiance? Not disinterested? What if it’s a difference?
One year, I had a student who rarely made eye contact with me. At first, I thought he was ignoring me. Later, I learned that in his culture, avoiding direct eye contact with adults was a sign of respect, not rudeness. That one insight completely changed the way I interacted with him.
I understand this more personally than I realized at the time. Growing up in Jamaica, my natural way of speaking was in my dialect. Whenever I entered a new classroom, especially outside of Jamaica, I wondered if I would be judged for it. Would people hear my voice and think I was less capable? Would they decide who I was before they even knew me? That feeling of being evaluated before being understood still shapes how I approach my students today.
Our perceptions are shaped by our own upbringing and experiences. Students and families bring their own worlds into the classroom, filled with unique norms, values, and histories. Understanding doesn’t require knowing everything; it starts with noticing what you don’t know.
That’s where the S.N.A.P. Method™ helps reframe our responses with curiosity, compassion, and cultural awareness.
Using S.N.A.P. to Lead with Cultural Responsiveness
STOP. Pause Before You React
Ask yourself:
Is this defiance, or is it a difference?
Is my interpretation shaped by my own expectations?
What else might be true?
NOTICE. Look Beneath the Surface
Cultural differences can shape behaviors in ways we misinterpret:
In some cultures, direct eye contact with adults is considered a sign of disrespect.
Speaking up uninvited may be rude or a sign of confidence.
Missing a conference could mean juggling multiple jobs, past trauma, or language barriers.
Ask:
Am I interpreting this through my own lens?
Have I considered the student’s or family’s background before making a judgment?
ACT. Respond with Understanding, Not Just Consequences
Reflect on Your Lens: What norms do you expect?
Seek Connection Over Correction: “I noticed you don’t usually look at me when I speak. Can you tell me more about that?”
Build Family Bridges: Ask about their school experiences. Offer translations or involve cultural liaisons.
Collaborate for Context: Partner with ELL teams, instructional coaches, or colleagues.
Celebrate Culture, Don’t Stereotype: Include diverse materials, but avoid lumping students together.
PLAN. Make Inclusion Routine
Keep a Cultural Reflection Journal: After challenges, ask, Could culture be a factor?
Integrate Culture into Support Plans: Consider how culture may shape learning or communication.
Make Inclusion Rhythmic, Not Random: Go beyond heritage months; weave culture into daily learning and relationships.
You Don’t Have to Know Everything; Just Stay Curious
Cultural responsiveness isn’t about mastering every tradition or dialect. It’s about pausing before labeling, asking instead of assuming, and making space for stories different from your own.
When you ask instead of assume… When you choose connection over correction… When you let curiosity guide the conversation… You’re not just teaching. You’re building trust and creating a classroom where every student feels safe to be themselves.
Start this year not just ready to teach, but ready to see. The greatest lesson you teach may be that every student matters.
