What does it mean to be a culturally responsive educator?

Culturally responsive educators actively work to teach in a way that ensures success for all students in their classrooms.

This involves seeing students as partners in their own educational achievement and being sensitive to the different backgrounds and worldviews each student brings to the learning process.

The goal of a culturally responsive classroom is to build a community of learners. 

This is achieved by treating each student as an individual and expecting nothing less than top quality work from each and every learner.

Even students who have been deemed "low-achieving" by the district deserve a teacher that supports their potential and access to the same quality of education as "high-achieving" students.

To be equitable in their treatment of students, teachers should seek to understand the cultural background of every learner in the classroom. 

Perhaps one student shows respect and engages with the lesson by actively commenting while the teacher is talking, as is common in their community or household.

A teacher who is unfamiliar with the communication styles of her students might see this behavior as rude and put a stop to it, effectively silencing the intellectual efforts of that student and making them feel unsafe and unsupported in the classroom.

A teacher who is familiar with her students and the communities they members of, however, would understand that the student is participating in the lesson. She can encourage the student's participation and engage with them on a deeper level. 

How should an instructor integrate culturally responsive pedagogy in their classroom?

A study by Brown-Jeffy and Cooper (2011) identified 5 areas teachers should focus on. 

Area 1: Identity and Achievement

Teachers should not seek to be colorblind or ignore diversity in their classrooms. Instead, they should consider their own identities and the identities of their students. How do the ways students view themselves shape their views of the learning environment?

Area 2: Equity and Excellence

Every student has unique learning needs. Lessons should challenge every student in the classroom, as well as deepen critical thinking skills.

Area 3: Developmental Appropriateness

Lessons should be developmentally appropriate for students in terms of both their grade level and their culture. Sometimes culture might affect what is developmentally appropriate. 

Area 4: Teaching the Whole Child

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Teachers should foster collaboration between themselves and their students' parents and communities. The values a community and household uphold shape a child's academic identity.

Area 5: Student-Teacher Relationships

Classrooms should be welcoming environments for all learners and students should feel comfortable and safe around their teachers. 

How do teachers incorporate these 5 areas into their classrooms in a practical way?