What Does Being Culturally Responsive Mean?
In the United States, there are nearly 48 million immigrants from other countries (USA Facts). With this population of people from outside of the country, teachers need to learn how to create a learning environment that is culturally responsive.
As a teacher, you may have a class full of students whose family has been in the US for multiple generations, or the opposite could be true. You could have a class full of students who recently came to the US from another country. This means that teachers need to keep in mind the different students and their backgrounds, culture, experiences, and perspectives while teaching.
Building Relationships
Many students have different styles of communication. For example, in military families and people coming from southern states, it is polite to use "ma'am" and "sir" and to look people in the eyes. However, in many Asian cultures, showing respect comes in the form of bowing. Understanding your students and where they come from is crucial for developing a culturally responsive classroom.
Once you've established a relationship based on understanding, you are able to make more informed decisions for your classroom. If you have English language learners (ELLs), you might have some vocabulary translations in your classroom. This helps these students understand what you are talking about when you first introduce vocabulary. Over time, you can remove these aids and help students remain in the least restrictive environment.
Being Heard and Understood
When teachers create culturally responsive classrooms, students feel safer and more included. Students in this environment won't feel like outsiders and are more willing to participate. In this kind of environment, students and teachers feel like they are heard and understood. This leads to more learning and progress academically. Students need this kind of environment to develop in a way that helps them be functioning members of the community throughout their lives.
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