Being a culturally responsive teacher can feel overwhelming. And while all teachers want to be culturally responsive, it can be hard to know where to start or what a culturally responsive classroom even looks like. In large part that’s because it is a process that takes time and a whole lot of reflection. However, learning how to be culturally responsive is a worthwhile investment! That’s because relationships are the core of good teaching. Educators must go deeper than likes and dislikes in order to understand what makes each child unique, and this includes learning about their diverse backgrounds. With that in mind, here are some straightforward, actionable strategies to help get you get started teaching with cultural responsiveness in mind.
Use Diverse Names
All kids learn better when they can relate to the content they’re studying. Something as simple as using names that sound like your students’ can be the difference between engagement and disconnection. When you give your class word problems in math, change those names once in a while to introduce some diversity. And be sure the texts you read with students also have diverse names.
Represent a Diverse Range of Authors in Your Lessons
Be sure that the texts you are using in your lessons represent a range of authors too. Quite often, teachers choose texts based on their content without as much thought as to where the text came from. When you choose books from a diverse range of authors, your students are more likely to engage with the content in a meaningful way.
Represent Diversity in Your Media
Just as there needs to be diversity in the texts you use, there also needs to be diversity in the faces that you show. When you use celebrities, historians, etc. in your lessons, be sure that a wide variety of colors, cultures, religions, languages, and countries are represented. Teachers must deliberately contribute to normalizing diversity in media.
Show Interest
Take a genuine interest in your students’ lives outside of the classroom. When they share something with you, ask follow-up questions. If what they are sharing is something that’s new to you, be honest and ask questions! Encourage students to explain their interests and experiences to you, and try to communicate your understanding. Kids love being the teacher, and it’s a wonderful way to highlight their unique experience and expertise.
Involve Families
Being culturally responsive also means getting to know where a student comes from. This should include learning things about their family and family members. Make an effort to establish relationships with them, too. This could be in the form of a quick phone call or email to share something great their child did in school, or chit chat at pick up or drop off. A student is most likely to succeed when everyone in their life feels invested in their learning and in the teacher-student relationship.
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