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Posted by: Topic: Message: Understanding the impact of culture on learning and behavior is an ongoing process. It is by drawing knowledge from various disciplines (sociology, anthropology, education, and psychology) that we as educators can begin to gain an understanding of this complex process.
As we reflect on the concept of culture, it is important to understand the two levels of culture: the external characteristics (art, literature, dress, music, food, dance) and internal characteristics (behaviors, values, beliefs and assumptions). Most of the initiatives taken by schools and educators in the past revolve around activities that focus on the external characteristics of culture. Cultural Responsive Teaching challenges us to understand and integrate into our curriculum, teaching strategies, classroom management, communication with parents, school environment the knowledge gained by addressing the internal characteristics of culture.
As the demographics continue to change at a rapid speed across the nation, culturally and linguistically diverse populations are becoming the norm in our schools. No longer are these diverse populations to be found in specific cities or states, as in the past, or are they the reality only in urban settings. The so-called minorities are becoming the majority in many of our schools.
Suburbs and rural areas are discovering that linguistically and culturally diverse student populations are increasing rapidly in their communities. As educators struggle to understand the various cultural and linguistic groups in their communities, they often express a need for information, skills, and strategies to assist these new student populations to succeed academically and to integrate socially with other students.
Cultural Responsive Teaching entails integrating research and practice. It requires that educators be reflective about their pedagogy by constantly exploring how the knowledge they gain about their student's language and culture impacts instruction and assessment. It is an acknowledgement that high expectations go hand in hand with respect towards diversity and with a strong belief in the student's potential to learn and succeed.
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