Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning by Gholdy Muhammad
Unearthing Joy expands upon Gholdy Muhammad's Culturally and Historically Responsive Education framework by placing joy at the center of teaching and learning. Muhammad challenges educators to design learning experiences that nurture students' identities while developing their intellect, critical thinking, creativity, and sense of belonging. The book provides practical strategies for creating classrooms where students experience learning as meaningful, empowering, and joyful.
Teachers and instructional coaches will appreciate the book's blend of research, reflection, and practical classroom applications. Muhammad provides curriculum examples, planning tools, and instructional frameworks that help educators redesign learning experiences to better serve all students while fostering wellness, beauty, justice, and hope.
While every chapter offers valuable insights, educators will find the sections on the five pursuits, curriculum design, and culturally and historically responsive teaching especially valuable for creating engaging and inclusive learning experiences.
Topics included in the book:
The Five Pursuits for joyful learning
Practical tools and planning templates
Curriculum examples across grade levels and content areas
Identity, intellect, criticality, and joy
Culturally and historically responsive teaching
A call for systemic change
Why would a teacher want to read this?
This resource reminds educators that teaching is about far more than standards and pacing guides—it's about creating learning experiences where every student feels seen, valued, and inspired. Teachers will gain practical tools for designing instruction that promotes identity, belonging, critical thinking, and joy while strengthening academic learning. As an instructional coach, I have redesigned portions of my own curriculum using Muhammad's framework and have seen firsthand how these practices benefit all students, making this one of my most highly recommended professional reads.