Culturally relevant teaching

Last updated

Culturally relevant teaching is instruction that takes into account students' cultural differences. Making education culturally relevant is thought to improve academic achievement, [1] but understandings of the construct have developed over time [2] Key characteristics and principles define the term, and research has allowed for the development and sharing of guidelines and associated teaching practices. Although examples of culturally relevant teaching programs exist, implementing it can be challenging.

Contents

While the term culturally responsive teaching often refers specifically to instruction of African American students in the United States, [3] it can be an effective form of pedagogy for students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. For instance, in Canada, research suggests the gap between traditional Aboriginal education and Western education systems may be bridged by including spirituality in Aboriginal educational practices. Although the majority of discussions about culturally relevant teaching focus on primary or secondary school settings, Baumgartner and Johnson-Bailey have experienced the implementation and discussions of culturally relevant teaching within a higher education environment. [4]

Historical context

Culturally relevant teaching was made popular by Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings in the early 1990s. [5] The term she created was defined as one "that empowers students to maintain cultural integrity, while succeeding academically". [6] Culturally relevant pedagogy can also be found in the literature as "culturally appropriate" (Au & Jordan, 1981), "culturally congruent" (Mohatt & Erickson, 1981), "culturally responsive" (Au, 2009; Cazden & Leggett, 1981; Erickson & Mohatt, 1982; Lee, 1998), and "culturally compatible" (Jordan, 1985; Vogt, Jordan & Tharp, 1987). Ladson-Billings (1992) also provides some clarification between critical and culturally relevant pedagogy, with the difference being that culturally relevant pedagogy urges collective action grounded in cultural understanding, experiences, and ways of knowing the world. This has become more widely known and accepted in the education field. For example, the U.S. Department of Education's Equity Assistance Centers, such as the Equity Alliance at ASU help states, school districts and schools to establish the conditions for equitable educational outcomes for all students, using cultural responsiveness as one of the measures of the needed capabilities of teachers, principals and school communities as a whole. [7] The theory surrounding culturally relevant teaching is connected to a larger body of knowledge on multicultural education and helping culturally diverse students excel in education. [8] Researchers argue that there are gaps in academic achievement between mainstream culture and immigrants or ethnic cultural groups. Early theories suggest, the disconnect between these groups were due to student/teacher language difficulties or that ethnic cultures don't value education as heavily as the Western culture does. [9] Often placing, culturally diverse students unnecessarily in special education classes simply because of linguistic and cultural differences. [10] In response to these challenges, some researchers and teachers believe that education should be adapted to "match the cultures students bring with them from home". [8] :946 One key educational researcher who has contributed significantly to the progression of culturally relevant teaching is Geneva Gay. In her landmark book, Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice, Geneva Gay expanded the traditional view of culture beyond race and ethnicity. She wrote, "Even without being consciously aware of it, culture determines how we think, believe, and behave". [5] In other words, culture is a student's beliefs, motivations, and even social groups and norms. Thus, the teacher who practices culturally relevant teaching understands that culture manifests in a variety of adaptations within how students prefer to learn. A culturally responsive teacher uses differentiated instruction to tailor learning to every aspect of a student's culture.

Many of these researchers and educators support the constructivist theories of education because such perspectives recognize the value of multiple cultural viewpoints. [11] In constructivism, learners are taught to question, challenge, and critically analyze information rather than blindly accept what it taught; which leads to exactly the type of teaching advocated by the originators of culturally relevant teaching. [12] James Banks lays out 5 dimensions of multicultural education. These dimensions laid the foundation for the move toward culturally relevant teaching. The first dimension is content integration where teachers make a conscious effort to represent a variety of cultures in the curriculum and teaching. The second dimension of knowledge construction asks learners to begin questioning and critically analyzing the biased, and previously accepted, curriculum. In the third dimension, the teaching focus shifts to encouraging cross-cultural interactions in an effort to reduce prejudice. By the fourth dimension, equitable pedagogy, the teacher uses culturally relevant teaching to change teaching approaches. The purpose of Banks' fourth dimension is to tailor teaching methods to ensure success of students from all cultures. If successful, the fourth dimension and culturally relevant teaching will manifest into Banks' fifth dimension of an empowered school culture. It is in this stage when teachers and learners critically examine the institution of education for inequities. Banks' fourth and fifth dimensions are the perfect example of culturally relevant teaching. Teachers who achieve these dimensions, and thus fully realize the impact of culturally relevant teaching, cherish learners who question, seek answers through inquiry, and embrace a mindset of social justice. All of which are the key components of constructivism. [13]

James Scheurich believes culturally relevant pedagogy has a significant importance on our youth because it benefits students no matter what the ethnic background or culture of the students. He explained how the success of the nation is in the hands of children and in a society where students of color will no longer be the minority and how teachers must teach to their audience in order for students to be successful. [14]

Django Paris furthered this work in 2012 by introducing the term "culturally sustaining pedagogy". He proposed that not only do educators need to teach course content in a way that is relevant to students cultural context, educators need to sustain the cultures of their student's communities. [15]  His aim was for educators to see diverse languages and cultures as an asset in the classroom instead of an obstacle that students needed to overcome to be successful. In subsequent essays, Paris along with H. Samy Alim, acknowledge the groundbreaking work of Ladson-Billings while outlining the need to continue to develop her work. They propose it is insufficient to incorporate diverse cultures into classrooms while assuming current dominant cultures will remain the same. [16] Ladson-Billings agreed with this direction and deemed it necessary to continue to expand on her original works. Since culture is constantly changing and evolving, research and best practices will continue to change and build upon previous work as well. [17]

Characteristics

A number of authors, including Gay and Lipman, have identified characteristics of culturally responsive teaching. These characteristics are:

  1. Validating and affirming: Culturally responsive teaching is validating and affirming because it acknowledges the strengths of students' diverse heritages. [5] :31
  2. Comprehensive: Culturally responsive teaching is comprehensive because it uses "cultural resources to teach knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes". [18] [5] :32
  3. Multidimensional: Culturally responsive teaching encompasses many areas and applies multicultural theory to the classroom environment, teaching methods, and evaluation. [5] :32
  4. Liberating: Culturally responsive teachers liberate students. [19]
  5. Empowering: Culturally responsive teaching empower students, giving them opportunities to excel in the classroom and beyond. [8] "Empowerment translates into academic competence, personal confidence, courage, and the will to act". [5] :34
  6. Transformative: Culturally responsive teaching is transformative because educators and their students must often defy educational traditions and the status quo. [3] [20] [5] :36

In the context of British university business schools, in 2013, Jabbar and Hardaker proposed a five-pillar framework that is designed to support academics in understanding the pertinent aspects of developing pedagogy for students from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds in UK higher education. [21]

Principles of culturally relevant pedagogy

Principles of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) include:

  1. Identity Development: Good teaching comes from those who are true to their identity (including genetic, socioeconomic, educational and cultural influences) and integrity (self-acceptance). Teachers who are comfortable with themselves and teach within their identity and integrity are able to make student connections and bring subjects alive. [22] It is critical for the student-teacher connection when implementing Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. [23]
  2. Equity and Excellence: Within this principle the following concepts are addressed: "dispositions, incorporation of multicultural curriculum content, equal access, and high expectations". [23] The integration of excellence and equity in CRP is predicated upon establishing a curriculum that is inclusive of students' cultural experiences, and setting high expectations for the students to reach. [23]
  3. Developmental Appropriateness: Several concepts collectively define Developmental Appropriateness within the context of CRP. These concepts include, "...learning styles, teaching styles, and cultural variation in psychological needs (motivation, morale, engagement, collaboration)". [23] The goal is to assess students' cognitive development progress and incorporate learning activities within the lesson plan that are challenging and culturally relevant. [23]
  4. Teaching the Whole Child: Similar to 'Developmental Appropriateness', 'Teaching the Whole Child' is a theme that includes the concepts of "skill development in a cultural context, home-school-community collaboration, learning outcomes, supportive learning community and empowerment". [23] When teaching a child wholly, educators must be cognizant of the socio-cultural influences that have attributed to the learning progress of that child even before they enter the classroom. These outside influences must naturally be accounted for when designing a culturally relevant curriculum. [23]
  5. Student Teacher Relationships: The theme of Student-Teacher Relationship within the context of CRP aligns itself closely with the concepts of "caring, relationships, interaction, and classroom atmosphere". [23] Educators must combine the willingness to bond with their students with the desire to grow that relationship into one vested in personal care and professional vigilance. Students must feel that the teacher has their best interest at heart to succeed in implementing CRP. [23]
  6. Manage Student Emotions: When teaching adult learners it is also important to exhibit Culturally Relevant Pedagogies. Educators must be prepared to manage students that may have strong emotional experiences to culturally diverse readings [4] Positive emotions may enhance the learning experience, whereas negative emotions may cause discourse and prevent students from engaging. [4] Educators should explore strong emotions, particularly in adult learners, and use it as a cultural teachable moment.

Associated Teaching Practices

General Teaching Practices

Discipline Specific Teaching Practices

Additional Strategies

Maintaining relationships

Gloria Ladson-Billings has several research projects and articles where she interviewed educators at diverse schools. She mainly focused on low socioeconomic schools. After identifying several exceptional teachers in public schools in low-socioeconomic, mostly African American school districts, Ladson-Billings spent time observing and trying to explain their success with students who are typically pushed to the margins by public education, finding that all of the teachers shared pride in and commitment to their profession and had an underlying belief that all children could be successful. The participating teachers maintained relationships with their students that were "fluid and equitable" and often attended community events in order to demonstrate support for their students. These teachers also believed in creating bonds with students and developing a "community of learners," which means that all students worked collaboratively to become responsible for each other's learning. Ladson-Billings maintains that in order for teachers to use culturally relevant pedagogy successfully, they must also show respect for students and "understand the need for the students to operate in the dual worlds of their home community and the white community". [44]

There have been many studies done in response to how students respond to teachers that exhibit the above characteristics, incorporating the principles and use of these strategies within the classroom. For instance, Tyrone C. Howard looked at the "perceptions and interpretations" of students who have experienced this type of learning environment. The qualitative data which included students response, is evidence that this is a positive and effective form of pedagogy. [45]

Using technology to promote culturally relevant teaching

Optimistically, technology offers the unique chance for educators to bridge the curriculum of school to the 21st century learner, as culturally relevant teaching intends. The most significant barrier to the implementation of culturally relevant teaching has been the prevailing disconnect between school learning and the real-world needs of students  particularly minority students. Yet, when used correctly, "computer technology can provide students with an excellent tool for applying concepts in a variety of contexts, thereby breaking the artificial isolation of school subject matter from the real-world situations". [46] Technology permeates the real-world environment of the 21st century student. It is integral in the culture of the digital native learner. According to their literature review, Conole et al. found that for today's students, technology is transferable, integrated, personalized, organized, adaptive, and pervasive. [47] Today's student is continuously connected and in many cases far more of an expert than their teacher. Thus, if schools utilize technology, the curriculum becomes truly relevant and responsive to the learner of the 21st century. In school learning mirrors the learning they engage in outside of school.

With technology, students possess the ability to connect and interact with colleagues, across the globe, who share their views and beliefs. In interviews, digital natives report that, "lost cost communication technologies such as Skype, MSN chat, and email were considered invaluable forms of communication". [47] With technology, learners are able to form social groups and engage in cross-cultural interactions that provide instant feedback and learning challenges beyond the capacity of a single textbook, classroom, or neighborhood. These cross-cultural interactions, nearly impossible before global technologies, lead to the depth of questioning and critical thought needed to be successful in the 21st century, global society. In short, students use social networking and technological connections to connect with social and cultural peers but ultimately engage in interactions with members of a variety of cultural groups. These interactions can be quite empowering for modern learners.

It can be argued that digital technologies allow learners to be no longer held hostage to the culturally insensitive curriculum of public schools. In contrast, they are proficient at using technology to tailor their own learning. Within seconds, learners can access a wealth of information and knowledge and no longer must trust solely the limited perspective presented in their textbook. The 21st century learner is accustomed to using technology to challenge preconceived information. "Research indicates that computer technology can help support learning, and that it is especially useful in developing the higher-order skills of critical thinking analysis, and scientific inquiry" [46] Clearly, technology offers the potential of helping students achieve and benefit from culturally relevant teaching.

Despite the evidence supporting the use of technology, educators should be cautious of assuming technology will be a relevant vehicle for learning to all students alike. For instance, in lower income areas, such as rural America, an emphasis on high technology may be misguided. As a counterexample, a program in rural Virginia engages in culturally relevant teaching by explicitly avoiding high technology solutions and using locally relevant activities to guide learning. Specifically, fixing and using tools was used to teach engineering to rural middle school youth. [48]

Challenges to culturally relevant teaching

Culturally relevant teaching (CRT) has become a growing area of focus in education, but its implementation faces challenges. Indeed, there are many practical challenges to implementing culturally relevant pedagogy including a lack of enforcement of culturally relevant teaching methods, and the tendency to view students as individual units only, rather than seeing them as linked inseparably with their cultural groups. [5] In culturally relevant pedagogy, new teachers must be taught how to adapt their curriculum, methodology, teaching methods, and instructional materials to connect with students' values and cultural norms. Therefore, another challenge for educators is to prepare reflective practitioners who can connect with diverse students and their families. [11] Even though some schools of education acknowledge credibility in training culturally relevant educators, many wrestle with how fit such training into their program and "grudgingly add a diversity course to their curriculum". [11] :3 One contributor to this reluctance comes from the education professors' discomfort with or fear of addressing issues such as racism in their courses. [49] The student population of America's classrooms has changed. Based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics in 2021, 54% of students enrolled in prekindergarten through grade 12 come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Hispanic students account for 28% of the students enrolled and 45% of students enrolled in prekindergarten through grade 12 are white, falling from 61% in the 1993-94 school year. [50] Given these demographics, Kenneth Fasching-Varner and Vanessa Dodo-Seriki have suggested that disconnects in teacher and student identity lead to "Free and Reduced Pedagogy", or a non-student first approach that reduces students to cultural differences, discrediting students based on their identities and differences in identities between teachers and students. [51] In the largest school districts, half or more of the students are non-white. Demographic projections predict that cultural and ethnic diversity will increase. [14]

Examples of culturally relevant teaching programs

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a program from the San Diego (California) public schools that helps under-represented students (including those from different cultural groups) by mixing low-achieving students with high-achieving students in college preparation programs. "AVID employs many principles of cooperative learning in its 'writing, inquiry, and collaboration' approach to curriculum and instruction". [52]

The Umoja Community is a California-based group that roots itself in the principles and practices of culturally relevant teaching. Umoja works with students, colleges and the community to promote awareness, instill values and provide the foundations needed to achieve success, particularly for African American students, although it is committed to helping all students. The Umoja Community is recognized by the California Community Colleges System Board of Directors and helps serve over 2,000 students a year. [53]

The Russian Mission School in Alaska incorporates Native American culture with the standard curriculum and emphasizes hands-on activities that are relevant to their local lifestyle. [8]

Toronto (Ontario, Canada)[ clarification needed ] is currently using arts-education with other pedagogies, including Purpose Driven Education, to encourage authenticity, reclaiming personal power, and self-love through exploration of one's own familial and ethnic history.[ citation needed ]

In The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children, Gloria Ladson-Billings presents several examples of excellent culturally relevant teaching in African American classrooms. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedagogy</span> Theory and practice of education

Pedagogy, most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political, and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken as an academic discipline, is the study of how knowledge and skills are imparted in an educational context, and it considers the interactions that take place during learning. Both the theory and practice of pedagogy vary greatly as they reflect different social, political, and cultural contexts.

Technology integration is defined as the use of technology to enhance and support the educational environment. Technology integration in the classroom can also support classroom instruction by creating opportunities for students to complete assignments on the computer rather than with normal pencil and paper. In a larger sense, technology integration can also refer to the use of an integration platform and application programming interface (API) in the management of a school, to integrate disparate SaaS applications, databases, and programs used by an educational institution so that their data can be shared in real-time across all systems on campus, thus supporting students' education by improving data quality and access for faculty and staff.

"Curriculum integration with the use of technology involves the infusion of technology as a tool to enhance the learning in a content area or multidisciplinary setting... Effective technology integration is achieved when students can select technology tools to help them obtain information on time, analyze and synthesize it, and present it professionally to an authentic audience. Technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions—as accessible as all other classroom tools. The focus in each lesson or unit is the curriculum outcome, not the technology."

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments and learning spaces that can accommodate individual learning differences.

Gloria Jean Ladson-Billings FBA is an American pedagogical theorist and teacher educator known for her work in the fields of culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory, and the pernicious effects of systemic racism and economic inequality on educational opportunities. Her book The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African-American Children is a significant text in the field of education. Ladson-Billings is Professor Emerita and formerly the Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teacher education</span> Training teachers to develop teaching skills

Teacher education or teacher training refers to programs, policies, procedures, and provision designed to equip (prospective) teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, approaches, methodologies and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school, and wider community. The professionals who engage in training the prospective teachers are called teacher educators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inclusion (education)</span> Where disabled students spend most of their time with non-disabled students

Inclusion in education refers to all students being able to access and gain equal opportunities to education and learning. It arose in the context of special education with an individualized education program or 504 plan, and is built on the notion that it is more effective for students with special needs to have the said mixed experience for them to be more successful in social interactions leading to further success in life. The philosophy behind the implementation of the inclusion model does not prioritize, but still provides for the utilization of special classrooms and special schools for the education of students with disabilities. Inclusive education models are brought into force by educational administrators with the intention of moving away from seclusion models of special education to the fullest extent practical, the idea being that it is to the social benefit of general education students and special education students alike, with the more able students serving as peer models and those less able serving as motivation for general education students to learn empathy.

English-language learner is a term used in some English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada to describe a person who is learning the English language and has a native language that is not English. Some educational advocates, especially in the United States, classify these students as non-native English speakers or emergent bilinguals. Various other terms are also used to refer to students who are not proficient in English, such as English as a second language (ESL), English as an additional language (EAL), limited English proficient (LEP), culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD), non-native English speaker, bilingual students, heritage language, emergent bilingual, and language-minority students. The legal term that is used in federal legislation is 'limited English proficient'.

Curriculum theory (CT) is an academic discipline devoted to examining and shaping educational curricula. There are many interpretations of CT, being as narrow as the dynamics of the learning process of one child in a classroom to the lifelong learning path an individual takes. CT can be approached from the educational, philosophical, psychological and sociological perspectives. James MacDonald states "one central concern of theorists is identifying the fundamental unit of curriculum with which to build conceptual systems. Whether this be rational decisions, action processes, language patterns, or any other potential unit has not been agreed upon by the theorists." Curriculum theory is fundamentally concerned with values, the historical analysis of curriculum, ways of viewing current educational curriculum and policy decisions, and theorizing about the curricula of the future.

Multilingual education (MLE) typically refers to "first-language-first" education, that is, schooling which begins in the mother tongue, or first language, and transitions to additional languages. Typically, MLE programs are situated in developing countries where speakers of minority languages, i.e. non-dominant languages, tend to be disadvantaged in the mainstream education system. There are increasing calls to provide first-language-first education to immigrant children from immigrant parents who have moved to the developed world. Offering first-language-first education to immigrant children in developed countries has gained attention due to the unique challenges these students face. When students move to a new country, language and cultural barriers can affect their academic progress and well-being. Some suggest that providing instruction in their first language initially, as part of multilingual education (MLE) programs, could help ease their transition. By recognizing and respecting their linguistic and cultural backgrounds, these programs aim to create a supportive learning environment where students feel more comfortable and confident. While this approach may contribute to the preservation of heritage languages, implementing MLE programs present other potential benefits and challenges.

Multicultural education is a set of educational strategies developed to provide students with knowledge about the histories, cultures, and contributions of diverse groups. It draws on insights from multiple fields, including ethnic studies and women studies, and reinterprets content from related academic disciplines. It is a way of teaching that promotes the principles of inclusion, diversity, democracy, skill acquisition, inquiry, critical thought, multiple perspectives, and self-reflection. One study found these strategies to be effective in promoting educational achievements among immigrant students.

Multiliteracy is an approach to literacy theory and pedagogy coined in the mid-1990s by the New London Group. The approach is characterized by two key aspects of literacy – linguistic diversity and multimodal forms of linguistic expressions and representation. It was coined in response to two major changes in the globalized environment. One such change was the growing linguistic and cultural diversity due to increased transnational migration. The second major change was the proliferation of new mediums of communication due to advancement in communication technologies e.g the internet, multimedia, and digital media. As a scholarly approach, multiliteracy focuses on the new "literacy" that is developing in response to the changes in the way people communicate globally due to technological shifts and the interplay between different cultures and languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Educational anthropology</span>

Educational anthropology, or the anthropology of education, is a sub-field of socio-cultural anthropology that focuses on the role that culture has in education, as well as how social processes and cultural relations are shaped by educational settings. To do so, educational anthropologists focus on education and multiculturalism, educational pluralism, culturally relevant pedagogy and native methods of learning and socializing. Educational anthropologists are also interested in the education of marginal and peripheral communities within large nation states. Overall, educational anthropology tends to be considered as an applied field, as the focus of educational anthropology is on improving teaching learning process within classroom settings.

Gwendolyn Cartledge is professor in the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services at the Ohio State University, specializing in methods for teaching social skills to children with and without disabilities ). Her primary responsibilities include teacher education for students with mild disabilities on. Her research and writings are recognized and cited nationally in teacher preparation programs. She has written several books and articles on these topics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indigenous education</span> Education that focuses on teaching within formal or non-formal educational systems

Indigenous education specifically focuses on teaching Indigenous knowledge, models, methods, and content within formal or non-formal educational systems. The growing recognition and use of Indigenous education methods can be a response to the erosion and loss of Indigenous knowledge through the processes of colonialism, globalization, and modernity.

Kenneth J. Fasching-Varner formerly the Shirley B. Barton Endowed Associate Professor of Education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is now Professor of Education at University of Nevada, Las Vegas whose ideas contribute to education and social reform. Fasching-Varner has proposed a non-developmental theory of white racial identity offering a direct counterpoint to the developmental theories of racial identity. He, along with colleagues Christine Clark and Mark Brimhall-Vargas, have written about the occupation of the academy in higher education to discuss the treatment of diversity in higher education during the Obama era. The edited volume has received praise, being awarded the Duke University Office of Inclusion and Equity's December 2012 book of the month. The volume has also received critique from the neo-conservative Manhattan group, citing that the book does not account for fiscal needs when advocating for diversity.

Christine E. Sleeter is an American professor and educational reformer. She is known as the Professor Emerita in the School of Professional Studies, California State University, Monterey Bay. She has also served as the Vice President of Division K of the American Educational Research Association, and as president of the National Association for Multicultural Education. Her work primarily focuses on multicultural education, preparation of teachers for culturally diverse schools, and anti-racism. She has been honored for her work as the recipient of the American Educational Research Association Social Justice Award, the Division K Teaching and Teacher Education Legacy Award, the CSU Monterey Bay President's Medal, the Chapman University Paulo Freire Education Project Social Justice Award, and the American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group Multicultural and Multiethnic Education Lifetime Achievement Award.

Social justice educational leadership emphasizes the belief that all students can and will reach proficiency, without exceptions or excuses, and that schools ought to be organized to advance the equitable learning of all students. Rather than focusing on one group of students who traditionally struggle, or who traditionally succeed, social justice leaders address the learning needs of all students. Social justice educational leadership specifically addresses how differences in race, income, language, ability, gender, and sexual orientation influence the design and effectiveness of learning environments. Social justice leadership draws from inclusive education practices from disability education, but extends the concepts further to support students from diverse groups with a wide range of needs. Through restructuring staff allocation and assessing student progress through disaggregated data, school leaders strive to create schools with equal access and equitable support for all students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learning environment</span> Term in education

The term learning environment can refer to an educational approach, cultural context, or physical setting in which teaching and learning occur. The term is commonly used as a more definitive alternative to "classroom", but it typically refers to the context of educational philosophy or knowledge experienced by the student and may also encompass a variety of learning cultures—its presiding ethos and characteristics, how individuals interact, governing structures, and philosophy. In a societal sense, learning environment may refer to the culture of the population it serves and of their location. Learning environments are highly diverse in use, learning styles, organization, and educational institution. The culture and context of a place or organization includes such factors as a way of thinking, behaving, or working, also known as organizational culture. For a learning environment such as an educational institution, it also includes such factors as operational characteristics of the instructors, instructional group, or institution; the philosophy or knowledge experienced by the student and may also encompass a variety of learning cultures—its presiding ethos and characteristics, how individuals interact, governing structures, and philosophy in learning styles and pedagogies used; and the societal culture of where the learning is occurring. Although physical environments do not determine educational activities, there is evidence of a relationship between school settings and the activities that take place there.

Donna Y. Ford is an American educator, anti-racist, advocate, author and academic. She is a distinguished professor of education and human ecology and a faculty affiliate with the center for Latin American studies in the college of arts and sciences, and the Kirwan Institute in the college of education and human ecology at Ohio State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrone Howard</span> American educator, academic, and author

Tyrone C. Howard is an American educator, academic, and author. He is a professor of Education in the School of Education and Information Studies and the Founder and executive director of the Black Male Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also serves as the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in Education to Strengthen Children & Families, Faculty Director of UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, as well as Director of UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children & Families.

References

  1. Curwin, D; Lynda, A (2003). "A missing link: Between traditional aboriginal education and the western system of education". Canadian Journal of Native Education. 27 (2): 144–160.
  2. Gay, Geneva (2010). Culturally responsive teaching: theory, research, and practice. Multicultural education series (2nd ed.). New York: Teachers College. ISBN   978-0-8077-5078-0. OCLC   468857747.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ladson-Billings, Gloria (1994). The dreamkeepers: Successful teachers of African American children (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishing. ISBN   9780470408155. OCLC   941563368.
  4. 1 2 3 Baumgartner, Lisa M.; Johnson-Bailey, Juanita (December 16, 2008). "Fostering awareness of diversity and multiculturism in adult and higher education". New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. 2008 (120): 45–53. doi:10.1002/ace.315. ISSN   1052-2891.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gay, Geneva (2010). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice (2nd ed.). New York, New York: Teachers College Press. ISBN   9780807750780.
  6. Ladson-Billings, Gloria (1995a). Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. American Research Journal. 32(3) 465-491.
  7. Equity Alliance (2011). The Equity Alliance at ASU. Retrieved from http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/ Archived 2019-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
  8. 1 2 3 4 Castagno, A.; Brayboy, B. (2008). "Culturally responsive schooling for indigenous youth: A review of the literature". Review of Educational Research. 78 (4): 941–993. doi:10.3102/0034654308323036. S2CID   145586333.
  9. Schmeichel, Mardi (2012). "Good teaching? An examination of culturally relevant pedagogy as an equity practice". Journal of Curriculum Studies. 44 (2): 211–231. doi:10.1080/00220272.2011.591434. S2CID   144166866.
  10. Artiles, Alfredo J.; Harry, Beth (2006). "Addressing culturally and linguistically diverse student overrepresentation in special education: Guidelines for parents". National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCREST).[ dead link ] Alt URL
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Kea, Cathy; Campbell-Whatley, Gloria D.; Richards, Heraldo V. (2004). "Becoming culturally responsive educators: Rethinking teacher education pedagogy" (PDF). National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems.
  12. Banks, J.A. (2004). Multicultural education: Historical development, dimensions, and practice. In J.A. Banks & C.A.M. Banks, Handbook of research on multicultural education (2nd Ed., pp. 3–29). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  13. Flinders, D.J., & Thornton, S.J. (2009). The curriculum studies reader, 3rd Ed. New York: Routledge.
  14. 1 2 Scheurich, James. "Why is culturally relevant pedagogy important?". Archived from the original on April 19, 2012.
  15. Paris, Django. "Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy: A Needed Change in Stance, Terminology, and Practice". Educational Researcher. 41 (3): 93–97. doi:10.3102/0013189X12441244. ISSN   0013-189X. S2CID   145717456.
  16. Paris, Django; Alim, H. Samy (2014-04-01). "What Are We Seeking to Sustain Through Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy? A Loving Critique Forward". Harvard Educational Review. 84 (1): 85–100. doi:10.17763/haer.84.1.982l873k2ht16m77. ISSN   0017-8055.
  17. Ladson-Billings, Gloria (2014-04-01). "Culturally Relevant Pedagogy 2.0: a.k.a. the Remix". Harvard Educational Review. 84 (1): 74–84. doi:10.17763/haer.84.1.p2rj131485484751. ISSN   0017-8055.
  18. Hollins, E. (1996). Culture in school learning: Revealing the deep meaning. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
  19. Lipman, P. (1995). "Bringing out the best in them: The contribution of culturally relevant teachers to education reform" (PDF). Theory into Practice. 34 (3): 202–208. ERIC   ED374173.
  20. Scherff, L; Spector, K (2011). Culturally relevant pedagogy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.
  21. Jabbar, Abdul; Hardaker, Glenn (2013). "The role of culturally responsive teaching for supporting ethnic diversity in British University Business Schools" (PDF). Teaching in Higher Education. 18 (3): 272–284. doi:10.1080/13562517.2012.725221. ISSN   1356-2517. S2CID   143701923 . Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  22. Palmer, Parker. (1998). The heart of a teacher: Identity and integrity in teaching. In, Courage to teach. (pp. 9–34). San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Brown-Jeffy, S.; Cooper, J. E. (2011). "Toward a Conceptual Framework of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: an Overview of the Conceptual and Theoretical Literature" (PDF). Teacher Education Quarterly. 38 (1): 65–84. ERIC   EJ914924.
  24. Gay, Geneva. “Preparing for Culturally Responsive Teaching.” Journal of Teacher Education, vol. 53, no. 2, 2002, pp. 106-116.
  25. Mayer, R. (2008). "Teaching by creating cognitive apprenticeship in classrooms and beyond". Learning and instruction (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall. pp. 458–489. ISBN   9780131707719.
  26. Kea, Cathy; Campbell-Whatley, Gloria D.; Richards, Heraldo V. (2004). "Becoming culturally responsive educators: Rethinking teacher education pedagogy" (PDF). National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems.
  27. Diller, J., & Moule, J. (2005). Cultural competence: A primer for educators, Thomson Wadsorth: Belmont, California.
  28. Mayer, R. (2008). "Teaching by creating cognitive apprenticeship in classrooms and beyond". Learning and instruction (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall. pp. 458–489. ISBN   9780131707719.
  29. 1 2 Wardle, F. (1992). "Supporting Biracial children in the school setting". Education and Treatment of Children. 15 (2): 163–172. JSTOR   42900468.
  30. 1 2 Kea, Cathy; Campbell-Whatley, Gloria D.; Richards, Heraldo V. (2004). "Becoming culturally responsive educators: Rethinking teacher education pedagogy" (PDF). National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems.
  31. Jabbar, Abdul; Hardaker, Glenn (2013). "The role of culturally responsive teaching for supporting ethnic diversity in British University Business Schools" (PDF). Teaching in Higher Education. 18 (3): 272–284. doi:10.1080/13562517.2012.725221. ISSN   1356-2517. S2CID   143701923 . Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  32. Byrd, Christy M. (2016). "Does Culturally Relevant Teaching Work? An Examination From Student Perspectives". SAGE Open. 6 (3): 215824401666074. doi: 10.1177/2158244016660744 . ISSN   2158-2440.
  33. Aceves, Terese (July 2014). "Culturally Responsive Teaching".
  34. Resor, Cynthia W (2017). Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social Studies. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-4758-3202-0.
  35. Resor, Cynthia W. (2017). Exploring Vacation and Etiquette Themes in Social Studies: Primary Source Inquiry for Middle and High School. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. Chapter 2. ISBN   978-1-4758-3198-6.
  36. McNair, Jonda C. (2011-11-09). "Classic African American Children's Literature". The Reading Teacher. 64 (2): 96–105. doi:10.1598/rt.64.2.2. ISSN   0034-0561.
  37. 1 2 Young, Jamaal; Young, Jemimah; Fox, Brandon; Levingston Jr., Earl; Tholen, Alana (2019). "We Would If We Could: Examining Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy in a Middle School Mathematics Methods Course". Northwest Journal of Teacher Education. 14 (1). doi: 10.15760/nwjte.2019.14.1.3 . ISSN   2638-4035.
  38. Bright, Anita (2016). "The problem with story problems". Rethinking Schools. 30 (4): 14–19.
  39. Ladson-Billings, Gloria (1992). "Reading between the lines and beyond the pages: A culturally relevant approach to literacy teaching". Theory into Practice. 31 (4): 312–320. doi:10.1080/00405849209543558.
  40. Gollnick, D. and Chinn, P. (2013). Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society. Pearson.
  41. Gonzalez-Mena, J. and Pulido-Tobiassen, D. Teaching Diversity: A Place to Begin. Retrieved October 31, 2012 from www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-quotdiversityquot. November 1999.
  42. Russell, S. Six Tips for Teaching Diversity. Retrieved November 15, 2012 from www.suite101.com/article/six-tips-for-teaching-diversity-930336. September 2007.
  43. Teaching and Learning about Racial Issues in the Modern Classroom. (2003). Retrieved October 31, 2012 from www.radicalpedagogy.icaap.org.content/issues5_1/02_grant.html
  44. Coffey, Heather. "Culturally relevant teaching". Learnnc.org. UNC. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  45. Howard, Tyrone C. (2001). "Telling Their side of the Story:African American Students' Perceptions of Culturally Relevant Teaching" (PDF). The Urban Review. 33 (2): 131–149. doi:10.1023/A:1010393224120. S2CID   56206287 . Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  46. 1 2 Roschelle, J., Pea, D., Hoadley, C., Gordin, D., & Means, B. (2000). Changing how and what children learn in school with computer-based technologies. Children and Computer Technology. 10 (2) 76  101.
  47. 1 2 Conole, G.; de Laat, M.; Dillon, T.; Darby, J. (February 2008). "Disruptive technologies, pedagogical innovation: What's new? Findings from an in-depth study of students use and perception of technology". Computers and Education. 50 (2): 511–524. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2007.09.009.
  48. Gillen, Andrew; Carrico, Cheryl; Grohs, Jake; Matusovich, Holly (2018-12-01). "Using an Applied Research-Practice Cycle: Iterative Improvement of Culturally Relevant Engineering Outreach". Journal of Formative Design in Learning. 2 (2): 121–128. doi:10.1007/s41686-018-0023-7. ISSN   2509-8039. S2CID   158347992.
  49. Cochran-Smith, M. (2004). Walking the road: Race, diversity, and social justice in teacher education. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
  50. "Fast Facts - Back-to-school statistics". National Center for Education Statistics.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. Fasching-Varner, K.J., Dodo-Seriki, V.C. (2012). Moving beyond seeing with our eyes wide shut: A response to "There is no culturally responsive teaching spoken here". Democracy and Education, 20(1), 1-6.
  52. Mehan, H. (1996). Constructing school success. The consequences of untracking low-achieving students. New York: Cambridge University Press. (Abstract)
  53. "Umoja Community". Umoja Community. 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.