Part 3

CUlturally REsponsive and Sustaining Mindsets

Link to the NYSED Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) brought together a group of experts to consult on and create a Framework for Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education. The Framework was created in collaboration with various stakeholders: students, teachers, parents, school and district leaders, higher education faculty, community advocates and policymakers. This framework "is intended to help education stakeholders create student-centered learning environments that affirm cultural identities; foster positive academic outcomes; develop students’ abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; empower students as agents of social change; and contribute to individual student engagement, learning, growth, and achievement through the cultivation of critical thinking” (pp. 6-7).  

CRSE Mindsets

Certain mindsets are conducive to being a culturally responsive and sustaining educator. The NYSED CRSE Framework outlines some of these mindsets. 

Take five minutes to read the Culturally Responsive and Sustaining mindsets (page 16) and then select one mindset as your focus.  
Take a few minutes and journal a response to these prompts:

Why did I select this mindset? 
Why is this mindset important for being a culturally responsive and sustaining educator?

Connecting to Instruction

The vision for culturally responsive-sustaining education contained in this framework gives us insight into what the framework creators see as the goal for CRSE. The creators also outline four principles of culturally responsive-sustaining education that outline the key components for how to get to this vision. 

Individually, read the vision and four principles and record personal connections, extensions, and challenges:

Vision: pages 8-9  
Four principles: pages 14-15

Journal your responses to these prompts, from the Connect-Extend-Challenge thinking routine:

How are the ideas and information presented connected with what you already knew and have been doing in blended and/or remote learning? 
What new ideas did you get that extended or broadened your thinking in new directions? 
What is a way this challenges your thinking about your current practices related to blended and/or remote learning?

Optional: Group Reflection

 If you are engaging in this activity as a group of educators, do a group debrief. Have each participant share one reflection from their journal responses  with your community and colleagues and discuss together:  

What themes do we hear in our reflections?  
What questions do we still have that we may want to explore as a community moving forward?

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