It was a Wednesday, a teacher workday.  Today was dedicated to staff development. The morning would be dedicated to Culturally Responsive Teaching.  The afternoon was focused on assessment.

The teachers settled in, opened their notebooks, and got ready for a day of learning.

Throughout the morning presentation, the teachers learned effective models and strategies to engage and reach all students. The afternoon was spent learning effective ways to assess students and reflect on what the data communicates. The teachers all spent time reflecting on how their new learning might influence their planning and teaching.

The morning session began:

"Culturally responsive teaching," the presenter shared, "is a way for us, as educators, to understand our students' cultures.  Understanding our students in this way gives us a window into the ways students want to feel respected, heard, safe, and included in their classroom. When we work to understand our students' cultures, we can begin to understand the best ways to close the achievement gap."

Culturally Responsive Teaching

What?

-intentionally drawing on students' background, languages, and experiences to connect academic content.

Why?

- connect with students, understand 
cultures, hold high academic 
standards, teach with greater

effectiveness

Characteristics of CRT:

1. Teacher holds high expectations

2. Positive relationships with families/community

3. Sensitivity to cultures/experiences

4. Use of active teaching methods

5. Teacher facilitates

6. Student ownership
7. Work in pairs/
groups = lower anxiety

How?

Effective Strategies

1. **Examine your own biases**

    -Consider your experiences and how they 
    shape your beliefs.
    -Dare to go against the status quo

    -Read texts to learn more

    -Reflect on past & current practices

2. Reflect on your Curriculum

-Choose Multicultural Literature

    Remember:

    -Authentic Depictions of Cultures

    -Consider perspectives of characters

    -Mirror student lives

3. Build your classroom alongside your students

    Ask:

    -"How will we be together?"

    -Give students voice

4. Draw on students' "Funds of Knowledge"

    -Get to know families

    -Connect with community

    -Invite experts into the classroom to share 
    real life experiences

5. Simplify Language

    -Speak clearly & slowly

    -Repeat yourself

    -Define new words

Reflections: Plans for my classroom

1. Send out a survey to parents regarding expertise.

2. Reach out to community to connect with units

3. Add more diverse literature to classroom library

4. Choose 2 books to read to examine self & reflect

5. Learn common Spanish phrases that connect to content and routines.