What is culturally sensitive teaching and why is it important? (2023)

Culturally responsive teaching is a hot topic these days and is filled with complexities and nuances. Start your journey with this overview of the essentials, then use our list of recommended resources to deepen your understanding and start applying culturally responsive teaching strategies in your own classroom.

What is culture?

Source:intercultural solutions

First, take a step back and thinkWhat does "culture" mean?. When you think of culture, you probably imagine how a group of people with a common heritage dress, speak, cook, dance, make art and music, practice religion and rituals, etc.

In addition to these aspects, culture is the deeply rooted shared connections and beliefs of a group of people. Remember that culture is not necessarily based on race, ethnicity or nationality. For example, two native Spanish speakers can have very different cultures, depending on where they came from and how they were raised. Most people come from multicultural backgrounds. Culture is about what is passed down from one generation to another and creates a unique identity for a group of people.

Cultural beliefs and practices are something many of us don't think about until we come into contact with people whose culture is different from our own. Stepping out of our own culture can be uncomfortable, especially when we feel that other cultures see ours as "inferior". While learning about other cultures is good, it is important that we feel that ours is respected.

What is culturally sensitive teaching?

Source:education week

Culturally engaging teaching is based on the understanding that we learn best when we can connect with the material. For culturally responsible teachers, this means bringing together the diverse experiences, customs, communication styles, and perspectives of their students throughout the learning process.

Geneva Gay first used the term in her 2000 book,Culturally Responsive Lessons: Theory, Research, and Practice. Students from historically marginalized cultures were found to perform better academically when teachers made an effort to frame instruction "within students' lived experiences and frames of reference."

In other words, Gay encourages teachers to consider whether their learning materials, teaching strategies, and classroom environment truly represent the different cultures in their classroom. Are your books written by people from those cultures? Are different styles of communication respected? Do you relate your learning objectives to real experiences from all cultures? Do you hold all students to high standards, regardless of their background?

By asking these questions, Gay sparked the culture-sensitive teaching movement. It is part of a broader category known as "Wealth-based pedagogy' and has a wide range of applications and implications. Other related terms are "culturally relative teaching" and "culturally sustainable teaching".

Does culturally sensitive teaching really make a difference?

In short, yes. Many teachers can provide anecdotal evidence of how culturally appropriate teaching makes a huge difference to their diverse students. But if you're looking for hard facts, think about it.This study was carried out in 2016. He surveyed hundreds of students from different cultures and found that "teaching methods that connect to students' real lives and interests and promote understanding of other cultures are associated with better academic outcomes."Other studies agree.

Lessons with cultural appeal can help vulnerable populations stay in school, see the relevance of learning and believe they can learn. Culturally aware teachers feel more connected to their students, especially when they learn to see cultural differences in behavior as an asset rather than a problem. Putting learning in a relevant context, using differences to your advantage, and acknowledging inequality and injustice when they exist are concepts that every teacher should add to their toolbox.

How does culturally sensitive teaching work in the classroom?

Source:New America

While putting this into practice is a little different in every situation, there are some consistent strategies that culturally responsive teachers employ. here are some examples:

adopt prior knowledge

Consider this story problem: “Chaoxiang's family is gathering for this year's Qingming Festival, and he wants to bring enough Qingtuan so that each of them can have two. If there are 14 people, how many cookies should he bring?

If you're not familiar with Chinese culture, you're likely to see words that you not only don't know, but you're not even sure how to pronounce them. In fact, if you don't realize thatQingtuanis a dumpling shape, you may not know how to find the answer to the problem.

Students from different backgrounds in American schools can face similar situations, making learning unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Think about what your students already know from their daily lives and use that when creating lessons and materials. Research the stories, phrases and beliefs they are learning at home and find ways to incorporate them. Find out about the concept ofbackground of knowledgefor more opportunities to prioritize prior knowledge.

Incorporate multiple cultures into your examples and lessons

As the saying goes, "if you can see it, you can be it". Make sure your students feel represented in what they are learning. Would you like to explore the symbolism? Get rid of the same three poems by English poets that have been teaching you for years. Instead, look for examples of writers' works in your students' own communities. Better yet, ask them to bring their own examples.

Choose materials that represent your students

Take a look around your classroom. Does your library contain books by different authors on topics that speak to your students' cultures? What about your classroom decor? Do they show faces and cultural elements similar to your own students? Children need to see that their teacher knows that not everyone has the same experiences and values, and that's okay.

Put learning in context

Regardless of their culture, all children at some point ask themselves the same question: “Why is it important to learn this? What does this have to do with my life?”

So take the time to sort it out. You can learn about ancient Greek civilization. Talk about how life was similar or different than it is now. Consider social divisions, political events, and family structures. Discuss how your students can learn from the mistakes they made then or what elements of their society they think could benefit us today.

Embrace different communication styles.

"Do not interrupt". "Wait for them to recognize you before you speak." "Look directly at someone when you're talking to them." These are all pretty standard teaching guidelines, but they are specific to only a few cultures. In some cultures, interrupting is not rude, but it shows interest. Making eye contact can be difficult for some, even culturally discouraged people.

Discover how different cultures communicate and learn how to accommodate them in your classroom. That doesn't mean it doesn't govern everything. It means understanding that there may be cultural reasons why some children have a harder time waiting their turn, while others are reluctant to speak. Don't get angry: understand, learn and adapt.

Set high standards for all students.

Implicit bias studies show that some teachers expect less from students from non-white communities. They assume they haven't had the same benefits as their white counterparts and therefore can't achieve as much.

But research tells us that this is exactly the wrong way to think. Teachers need to overcome their implicit bias and set fair expectations for all students. Of course, you always have to consider individual situations. But don't make assumptions based on culture. Hold each student to high standards and take each case as it comes.

Recognize unfairness, prejudice and unfairness.

This is becoming increasingly difficult in some places as states prohibit the teaching of things likeCritical Race Theory. But injustice, prejudice and racial injustice exist, and ignoring them will not make them go away. When students from different cultures can discuss these things in class, they too can feel seen. ANDIt opens them up to more learning..

There is no easy answer to addressing these issues in more restrictive states. Teachers can only do their best in the classroom and continue to strive to teach important subjects in a meaningful way.

How can I become a more culturally sensitive teacher?

As we said earlier, culturally sensitive teaching is a sensitive issue. You cannot learn everything you need to know from an article or even a book. Learn about your students' rich cultures and discover what interests them. Be open to new ideas, do more research, and test the principles in your classroom. Here are some resources that can help you:

• Prioritize culturally appropriate teaching in the classroom
• 10 anti-racism professional development books for teachers
• What are mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors?
• Education Week: What is culturally sensitive teaching?
• Got it: How to use culturally engaging teaching in the classroom
• Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Center

Culturally sensitive teaching is a complex subject, discuss it and seek guidance from theGrupo HELPLINE WeAreTeachers no Facebook.

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