Have you ever wondered if students are bored with your classroom instruction? Do your students seem unable to make connections or retain content knowledge? Are you afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and allow student choice and voice to change the trajectory of learning and teaching in your classroom space? Well, employing culturally responsive, relevant, and sustaining pedagogies can help teaching and learning take on exciting and interesting avenues as students learn that they can be lit AND literate. This session will provide you with materials and strategies to help you increase authentic student engagement thereby increasing attendance and content retention. Come READY to sing or speak about it.