With increasingly diverse classrooms, teachers need to be equipped to become culturally responsive educators. Briggs (2014) defines culturally responsive instruction as the “process of using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and performance styles of diverse students to make learning more appropriate and effective for them.” It is about meeting students where they are and providing the most effective instruction that caters to their diversity instead of ignoring it. Due to its importance, when planning lessons, it is crucial that teachers use research-based strategies to instruct learners in order to create a truly culturally responsive classroom environment.
Utilizing research-based culturally responsive strategies has many benefits for students. Firstly, these strategies can cultivate respect and admiration of the diverse cultures represented in the classroom. By giving students ample opportunities to represent their cultures, other students in the classroom can become more aware of the cultural differences and learn to appreciate cultural diversity more. Additionally, these strategies help cultivate a more student-centered classroom. As Alber (2015) defines a student-centered learning environment, it is “a learning space where your students have ample voice, engage frequently with each other, and are given opportunities to make choices.” Culturally responsive teachers do their best to give all students opportunities for their voices to be heard by others and does not allow anyone to slip away unnoticed and unappreciated. Lastly, implementing such strategies helps teachers build positive relationships with their students. By taking into account the diversity of their students, educators learn more about their students and are better equipped to build strong relationships with all of their students.
Due to the many advantages of utilizing research-based culturally responsive teaching strategies, every teacher should strive to embed them in their instructional practices. It is important that the differences of each student are represented, respected, and admired by others. In fact, it is the only responsible response to the increase in student diversity.
Utilizing research-based culturally responsive strategies has many benefits for students. Firstly, these strategies can cultivate respect and admiration of the diverse cultures represented in the classroom. By giving students ample opportunities to represent their cultures, other students in the classroom can become more aware of the cultural differences and learn to appreciate cultural diversity more. Additionally, these strategies help cultivate a more student-centered classroom. As Alber (2015) defines a student-centered learning environment, it is “a learning space where your students have ample voice, engage frequently with each other, and are given opportunities to make choices.” Culturally responsive teachers do their best to give all students opportunities for their voices to be heard by others and does not allow anyone to slip away unnoticed and unappreciated. Lastly, implementing such strategies helps teachers build positive relationships with their students. By taking into account the diversity of their students, educators learn more about their students and are better equipped to build strong relationships with all of their students.
Due to the many advantages of utilizing research-based culturally responsive teaching strategies, every teacher should strive to embed them in their instructional practices. It is important that the differences of each student are represented, respected, and admired by others. In fact, it is the only responsible response to the increase in student diversity.
References:
Alber, R. (2015). How student centered is your classroom? Retrieved from
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-student-centered-your-classroom-rebecca-alber
Briggs, S. (2014). 30 ways to become a culturally sensitive educator. Retrieved from
http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/culturally-sensitive-educator/
LEAP Innovations. (2017). LEAP learning framework. Retrieved from
http://leaplearningframework.org/#framework-download-for
Alber, R. (2015). How student centered is your classroom? Retrieved from
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-student-centered-your-classroom-rebecca-alber
Briggs, S. (2014). 30 ways to become a culturally sensitive educator. Retrieved from
http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/culturally-sensitive-educator/
LEAP Innovations. (2017). LEAP learning framework. Retrieved from
http://leaplearningframework.org/#framework-download-for