We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Culturally Responsive Teaching, America is being plagued by racial tensions that find their roots in a contentious past. We see demographics struggling with issues of identity, socioeconomic status, and enfranchisement.
Along the road to understanding these dynamics, scholars have formulated a number of approaches and theories to help frame and explain the American society we see today.
Among these are Critical Race Theory and the method-based Culturally Responsive Teaching. While the acronyms for both coincidentally spell out “CRT,” you’ll see that there are some key differences between these two terms that need to be flushed out in the wash!
Let’s take a deep dive into the underlying tenants that characterize these two ideological tools!
Teaching tip: Encourage students to consider all sides of a problem. Open-minded, tactful, and thorough sharing of ideas between various people with diverse backgrounds is the key to a well-rounded, young leader!
What Is Critical Race Theory?
You’ve probably heard this term being tossed around by numerous people in the past year. Interestingly, you may still be wondering exactly how this idea affects your life and the lives of your students every single day.
Critical Race Theory is a social theory that seeks to explain the challenges and hardships faced by the black and brown community in terms of “intersections” between characteristics such as:
- Skin color
- Systemic oppression
- Racism
- The law
- History
In this context, CRT offers a lens through which to examine the world around us. The concept of “intersectionality” asserts that individual hardships influence each other, with overlapping hardships leading to complex and systemic struggles for people of certain racial groups.
In teaching CRT, students may better understand the complex problems that MUST be addressed in order to fully realize the constitutional rights of every American citizen!
Teaching note: Critical Race Theory may not be a universal cure, but it offers a compelling “outside the box” look at some of America’s biggest challenges. Take a second to internalize this notion and spread your knowledgeable findings to students who are ready to soak up the information like a sponge!
Here are some tips and strategies that can help you in your next class:
- Ask your students what they’ve heard about Critical Race Theory
- Encourage safe and open sharing of ideas between students
- Facilitate continued exploration of CRT in the context of other theories
What Is Culturally Responsive Teaching?
On the other hand, Culturally Responsive Teaching is a method of instruction that seeks to incorporate the unique and diverse cultural backgrounds of each individual student. Instead of seeking to explain the world around us, CRT in this context allows us to appreciate and include the diversity that exists within the United States of America.
Some of the many cultural outlets created by black and brown communities throughout history include hip hop, AAVE, code-switching, food, and ethnic offshoots of pop culture. These elements should be used by numerous teachers across the country to best connect with students of varying cultural backgrounds.
Through Culturally Responsive Teaching, educators can set the example for their students to respect other students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This will facilitate the level of kindness and cooperation needed to spark a change within the heart of America.
The students of the present are the leaders of the future and our teachers have the ability to provide a direct line of influence into how they handle intense situations such as these.
Here are some tips and strategies that can help you in your next class:
- Get to know your students’ stories
- Create a positive environment where students can share family traditions
- Integrate curriculum topics with your students’ personal experiences
What You Need to Know: Similarities and Differences
Critical Race Theory is a sociological theory that frames the overall problem while Culturally Responsive Teaching is a teaching method/approach that seeks to maximize student growth in light of the problem. Even though both acronyms are the same, they are fundamentally different tools to address different sides of the same problem.
The most effective approach may even be to teach about Critical Race Theory using Culturally Responsive Teaching!
Lead the Charge for School Reform
Culturally Responsive Teaching, There are many changes that need to occur within the current school system to accommodate the needs of every single student. Our company creates the resources and tools teachers can easily use throughout each semester to continuously foster a learning environment.
When it comes to teaching America’s youth, you are never alone!
Providing kids with the ability to fully understand the world they live in and the social norms that exist within their country is a large initiative that truly takes full community support. A teacher is the one person with the ability to start these conversations and run their classroom in a way that helps students communicate their feelings on every topic.
It’s never easy trying to get kids to just sit down, be quiet, and listen up! Fortunately, a topic this intense could help them see how important their individual background truly is. Recently, many older teens and adults feel the need to foster hate surrounding the varying opinions of others.
The most wonderful advice an elementary school teacher can give their students is to truly learn about all sides of an issue so they aren’t so quick to pass judgment on anyone’s side. You lead and the kids will follow!
The Teaching Community: Culturally Responsive Teaching
If you are a teacher who is struggling to understand these topics, this article is just for you! Take your time to digest this information and tap into the more inquisitive side of your personality.
Culturally Responsive Teaching Your students look up to you not only to teach them academic information but guide their knowledge about the social issues that constantly surround them.
Having the ability to understand and respect the diversity of cultural backgrounds that exist within your classroom will help you champion the cause for diversity and inclusion throughout the entire country. Change can start with just one person. Change can start with YOU!
