Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT)

Gay defines it connecting students' cultural knowledge, prior experiences and performance styles to academic knowledge and intellectual tools in ways that legitimize what students already know.

These strategies and components have had the biggest impact on my teaching and seem to be most effective.

Steps in Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT)

1. 1. Self-Reflection! Teachers must know themselves.
2. 2. Know about the culture of the students you teach.
3. 3. Understand the Smog of Racism. It affects everyone. Know how you are affected.
4. 4. Check your attitude! You are not a missionary!
5. 5. Recognize Individuals! Cultural background information is helpful but do not use that to make judgments about individual students.

1. 6. Create inviting environment. (Share control of the classroom.)
2. 7. Curriculum materials should be diverse throughout the year! (No add-ons)
3. 8. Facilitate Learning (help students discover; be the coach!)
4. 9. Collaborate with Colleagues
5. 10. Reflect through thinking and writing.

Positive Outcomes of CRT

1. 1. High Expectations for all students.
2. 2. Funds of Knowledge (validating and using student experience).
3. 3. Students become more independent and confident.

1. 4. Support ESL with sheltered instruction through the SIOP Model.
2. 5. Leads to better strategies and appropriate assessments.