Explainer: What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?

Summary

This video explores the evolution of culturally inclusive teaching methods, focusing on three key pedagogies: culturally relevant pedagogy, culturally responsive teaching, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. The discussion traces their development from the 1990s to the present, with a metaphorical comparison to a tree, where each pedagogy represents a different part of the tree—roots, trunk, and branches. These teaching frameworks aim to empower students, particularly those from marginalized communities, by valuing and integrating their cultural identities into the learning process. The video emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive educational environment that nurtures diverse perspectives and promotes critical thinking.

Takeaways

• 😀 Culturally relevant teaching methods focus on valuing students' cultural identities to enhance academic success.
• 😀 The three key pedagogical approaches discussed are Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP).
• 😀 CRP, introduced by Gloria Ladson-Billings, emphasizes connecting students' cultural origins with intellectual growth while addressing societal inequities.
• 😀 CRT, coined by Geneva Gay, uses students' cultural experiences and perspectives as tools to improve classroom instruction and adapt to diverse communication styles.
• 😀 CSP, introduced by Django Paris, builds on CRP and CRT by focusing on nurturing cultural differences and decentering whiteness in the classroom.
• 😀 The metaphor of a tree is used to explain these pedagogies: CRP is the trunk, while CRT and CSP are the branches and leaves.
• 😀 The roots of the tree represent the wealth of knowledge within marginalized communities, which is often overlooked in mainstream education.
• 😀 CRP prioritizes students' intellectual growth while helping them appreciate their own cultures and become fluent in others.
• 😀 CRT encourages teachers to understand and validate cultural values, share multiple perspectives, and modify the classroom environment to fit diverse communication styles.
• 😀 CSP aims to celebrate multiculturalism and support students' cultural identities while fostering critical thinking and academic success for all learners.

Q & A

What are acid-base pedagogies, and how do they relate to teaching students of color?

Acid-base pedagogies refer to teaching methods that aim to empower students, particularly students of color, by recognizing and valuing their cultural identities and lived experiences. These approaches include Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, all of which work together to create an inclusive educational environment that addresses societal inequities and fosters intellectual growth.

What is the metaphor of the tree used to explain these teaching methods?

The tree metaphor represents the different pedagogical frameworks as parts of a tree: the roots, trunk, branches, and leaves. The roots symbolize the rich cultural knowledge of students' communities. The trunk represents Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, while the branches and leaves represent Culturally Responsive Teaching and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy. All these parts together aim to create an inclusive and empowering educational environment.

What is Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and who introduced it?

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, introduced by Gloria Ladson-Billings in the 1990s, focuses on prioritizing students' intellectual growth while affirming and appreciating their cultural identities. It also emphasizes teaching students to analyze and solve real-world problems, particularly those related to societal inequity.

How does Culturally Responsive Teaching differ from Culturally Relevant Pedagogy?

Culturally Responsive Teaching, coined by Geneva Gay in the year 2000, utilizes students' different cultural backgrounds, values, experiences, and perspectives as tools for enhancing classroom instruction. While Culturally Relevant Pedagogy focuses on intellectual growth and problem-solving related to inequity, Culturally Responsive Teaching emphasizes adapting teaching methods to better align with students' cultural communication styles and perspectives.

What is the goal of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, and who coined the term?

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, coined by Django Paris, aims to celebrate multiculturalism and decenter whiteness in the classroom. It goes beyond simply acknowledging cultural differences and seeks to actively nurture and sustain students' cultural identities, fostering an environment where all cultures are valued and respected.

How do Culturally Responsive Teaching and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy relate to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy?

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy are extensions or branches of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. While Culturally Relevant Pedagogy focuses on intellectual growth and problem-solving for social inequities, Culturally Responsive Teaching emphasizes using cultural characteristics to improve classroom interactions, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy builds on these ideas by focusing on nurturing and celebrating diverse cultures.

What are some specific components of Culturally Responsive Teaching?

Key components of Culturally Responsive Teaching include understanding and validating students' cultural values and traditions, sharing multiple perspectives with context, modifying classroom environments to accommodate different communication styles, and using students' cultural backgrounds as tools for better instruction.

Why is it important to center marginalized communities' knowledge in the classroom?

Centering marginalized communities' knowledge in the classroom helps address the historical and ongoing exclusion of these communities in mainstream education. It validates students' identities, empowers them academically, and promotes a more equitable educational experience that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving related to societal issues.

What role does critical thinking play in these pedagogical approaches?

Critical thinking is central to all three pedagogical approaches. They aim to equip students with the skills to analyze, critique, and solve real-world problems, especially those related to social inequity. By engaging students in critical thinking, these pedagogies empower them to become lifelong learners and active participants in their communities.

How do these pedagogical approaches address societal inequities?

These pedagogical approaches address societal inequities by ensuring that students' cultural identities are not only acknowledged but also celebrated. They encourage teaching that challenges dominant narratives and promotes diverse perspectives, aiming to dismantle systems of power and privilege while fostering an educational environment where all students, especially those from marginalized communities, can succeed.