Cultural orientation is the process of learning about the beliefs, values, and practices of another culture. It is an important part of preparing to teach students from diverse backgrounds. Cultural orientation can help teachers to be more inclusive and create spaces where all students learn to their potential. Understanding how to leverage cultural orientation to best meet the needs of students is an ongoing process.  Cultural competences include having a grasp of how culture and identity shape the lens through which students experience the larger world around them, and therefore, the content and classroom experiences encountered during formal schooling.  This theme explores the impact of teacher decisions and understanding of the importance of and nuances of cultural orientation in the classroom, and the impact on students who are not members of the dominant culture.