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Culturally Responsive Educator, also known as culturally relevant teaching, is a pedagogy that emphasizes the inclusion of students’ cultural references in all learning aspects. Traditional teaching methods emphasize the teacher-student relationship:
While the teacher is the expert, the student obtains the knowledge and follows the curriculum that supports standardized testing. However, this technique is no longer effective.
Today, classrooms are more diversified for teachers as we don’t have students with the same background, so learning methods should also be diversified. It must be based on personal and cultural experiences. It must be justice-oriented and reflect the current social environment.
01 – Culturally Responsive Educator Contextual Learning
Try curriculum lessons to students’ social communities to make them more contextual and meaningful. “For example, if you’re reading a chapter in history class, talk about why it’s important today, at your school, or in your community. Create a project that allows them to make parallels to the idea you’re learning about Culturally Responsive Educator
02 – Leverage Cultural Capital Culturally Responsive Educator
Not all students come from the same family; it’s critical to give those who don’t stand a chance to speak up. Assume you’re a teacher in an English class with ESL students. It’s crucial to figure out how to make use of the cultural capital they do have.
For example, the teacher may choose a book for the class to read that the ESL students can relate to and feel like they are the expert. As some students come from an agricultural background, you may want to choose a book that tells the narrative of a kid of migrant laborers as a teacher.
For instance, when you have a mixed-ability classroom, you want the minority students to feel like experts. You want to learn from their mistakes. You don’t want to overstep the mark and make ‘Johnny’ feel obligated to speak for all Mexicans by putting them in the position.
03 – Redecorate Classroom Setup
Take inventory of your classroom library’s books: Do they have authors of various races? Is there any representation for the LGBTQ community? Do the books feature both urban and suburban families?
Consider the posters on your walls and bulletin boards in addition to your school library. These are all minor modifications you can make to make your classroom more culturally sensitive.
04 – Culturally Responsive Educator Develop Relationships
Not all children desire to learn from all teachers since the teachers may not make them feel respected. Teachers should establish positive relationships with their students to make them feel respected, valued, and seen for who they are. Building those relationships allows children to form a community in the classroom and themselves,
which is a Culturally Responsive Educator.
When we think of culture and diversity, we frequently believe in black students, but we need to look broader than ever before. Some teachers with all-white, middle-class kids have difficulty understanding how culturally sensitive teaching practices related to them.
It is also critical that they teach students about diversity.
These aren’t only minority-friendly teaching techniques; they’re excellent teaching techniques for everyone.
