Culturally responsive teaching is a relatively new concept in education. It emphasizes a paradigm shift in the traditional teaching method in the classroom. It requires accountability on the teacher to ensure that the learning environment and lessons are culturally appropriate for all the learners in the class. Additionally, the wider school community will benefit positively from the connectedness of trust, communication, and respect that would have been taught and formed in the classroom. This type of teaching requires the teacher to utilize real-world scenarios, and aspects of social and emotional learning can character building through intentional collaboration and support. Teachers will have to reflect and develop their tolerance to being culturally sensitive in the pedagogical process.
Best-practice methods in the design of a rigorous and appropriate curriculum to improve culturally diverse student performance
In the construction of a curriculum that is rigorous and appropriate for culturally responsive teaching, equity and equality have to be accounted for to ensure that the needs of the learners are planned for identity development is also essential for both the students and the teacher as both are intricately interwoven in the classroom daily. Cite in Houghton Mifflin Harcourt(HMH) (2021), an article written by Dr. Tyrone C Howard (2019), explains that “the concept of culturally responsive teaching was introduced by education scholars Gloria Ladson-Billings and Geneva Gay; it incorporates attributes and knowledge from each student’s cultural background into instructional strategies and curricula to improve educational outcomes.”
The five best practices that were gathered from the research process are 1. Educators should extend understanding of the learning practices of culturally and linguistically diverse pupils as language/words have different meanings. 2. Assist pupils in developing a positive mindset and self-efficacy. 3. Create a learning atmosphere that is both intellectually and socially secure. 4. Link new knowledge to culturally relevant examples and metaphors from the student’s way of life. 5. Create a culture of learning that includes culturally appropriate rituals and routines within the classroom.
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