Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a research-based approach that leverages students’ assets — their cultures, languages, and life experiences — to create rigorous, student-centered instruction. Show To put CRT into practice, follow the ideas below. And remember, it’s OK to start small as you figure out what works for you and your students. Identify students’ assets.Reflect on your students’ strengths and whether you’ve considered them as strengths before. Ask yourself:
Finding out your students’ interests is a great way to build relationships. Their interests can also help guide your instruction. You can collect this information through:
All students bring funds of knowledge to the classroom. That includes their own background knowledge, experiences, and skills needed to navigate their day.
Culture and cultural valuesYou don’t need to become an expert on all cultural groups and languages. But you do need to understand your students’ cultural identities to build a positive classroom culture and create relevant learning opportunities. Learn about your students’ cultures, whether that’s a country on the other side of the globe or a neighborhood down the street. It’s also important to think about how your own culture impacts your teaching practices. This reflection can help you develop a mindset that strengthens relationships with all students, including those whose backgrounds are different from yours.
All students bring language assets and skills to the classroom. They may also have different styles of interaction and communication.
Learn about the language skills students bring to the classroom. For example, English language learners (ELLs) have bilingual skills that are often overlooked when they are evaluated only for their mastery of English. Some African American students regularly switch between dialects, known as code-switching. This skill requires high levels of linguistic, social, cultural, and cognitive ability, but it often goes unnoticed. Talk about how this skill can help students navigate contexts in and out of school. Support them in using language that’s appropriate to each context. Create a supportive classroom environment.Develop authentic, caring relationships. Relationships establish trust and respect — crucial ingredients for learning.
Create a welcoming classroom. Think about whether your classroom sends a message that students are welcome and that great things are possible for their learning.
Look for ways to increase and support rigor. Raising expectations is an important part of increasing academic achievement.
Continue your own learning.Explore resources to deepen your own understanding. CRT is a chance to reflect on your personal perspective. You can also use the CRT lens to learn about the broader forces that shape the lives of students.
Learn how to use CRT during distance learning.
Learn more by exploring the distance learning toolkit. Watch this video clip from Edutopia. Think about these questions as you watch:
CRT is a shift in mindset that will not happen overnight. It requires a willingness to learn, be vulnerable, be flexible with instruction, and reflect. The path to CRT is a journey, but with practice and patience, it will benefit you and all of your students. Related topics |