Culturally Relevant Curriculum

What Can This PD Do For My Instructional Practices?

Changing demographics in the United States and around the world are marked by significant increases among racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse populations. Teachers are challenged to respond with culturally responsive teaching practices that nurture, motivate, and empower students to become knowledgeable, effective global citizens.

Culturally responsive teaching recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning, enriching classroom experiences, and keeping students engaged.

For more information about our PD, please visit our informational pages below :

PD Overview

Student Interview Protocol

Bookshelf

3 Schools to Visit

Leading Learning Protocol

PLN Starter Kit

What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?

The notion of culturally responsive education is premised on the idea that culture is central to student learning. According to Gloria Ladson−Billings, "It is an approach that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes." The use of cultural referents in teaching bridges and explains the mainstream culture, while valuing and recognizing the students' own cultures.

This link between culture and classroom instruction is derived from evidence that cultural practices shape thinking processes, which serve as tools for learning within and outside of school (Hollins, l996). Thus, culturally responsive education recognizes, respects, and uses students' identities and backgrounds as meaningful sources (Nieto, 2000) for creating optimal learning environments.

The learning objectives of this session are:

I will learn concepts behind cultural sensitivity and relevance in my practices and curriculum. (To maximize learning opportunities, teachers gain knowledge of the cultures represented in their classrooms and translate this knowledge into instructional practice.)
I will consider how my curriculum can be amended/extended/or revised to be relevant to all stakeholders. (A reshaped curriculum is culturally responsive to the background of students.)
I will learn to create an atmosphere in my classroom and school where all students feel welcome, respected, and capable of success. (Teachers should work to develop consistent messages, from both the teacher and the whole school, that students will succeed, based upon genuine respect for students and belief in student capability.)

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