Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
Strategy Summary
To fully understand Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, educators must have an understanding of the historical framing from which this idea emerged: multicultural education. Multicultural education is rooted in the social action of African-Americans and other people of color who challenged discriminatory practices in public institutions during the civil rights movement of the 1960s (Banks, 1989; Davidman & Davidman, 1997). Since then, other oppressed groups have organized impactful movements for sociopolitical change and human rights, as well as movements towards equity in education. These groups include people of color, women, LGBTQ community, elders, and differently-abled individuals. Through the various actions of these groups, a body of scholarly work on multicultural education emerged (Gorski, 1999).
While multicultural education today has many practical interpretations, we recognize and honor this idea that was born from historical oppression and struggle. Today, it guides essential principles and forces that continue shaping other areas of study and educational reform. For a large scope understanding see the definition provided by Wilson below:
While multicultural education today has many practical interpretations, we recognize and honor this idea that was born from historical oppression and struggle. Today, it guides essential principles and forces that continue shaping other areas of study and educational reform. For a large scope understanding see the definition provided by Wilson below:
- Multicultural education is “education and instruction designed for the cultures of several different races in an educational system. This approach to teaching and learning is based upon consensus building, respect, and fostering cultural pluralism within racial societies. Multicultural education acknowledges and incorporates positive racial idiosyncrasies into classroom atmospheres” (Wilson, 1997).
- Culturally-relevant pedagogy is “a pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (Ladson-Billings, 1994).
- Incorporates a range of cultural perspectives into daily curriculum
- Uses bilingualism and biliteracy as a strong communication tool with students, parents and families
- Emphasizes cooperative learning strategies with a teacher as a facilitator
- Positive perspectives and communication with parents and families
Novel Synthesis
Related Learning Goals
References
Banks, J. (1989). Multicultural education: Characteristics and goals. In J. Banks & C. Banks (Eds.), Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Brown, P., & Abell, S. (2007) Cultrual diversity in the Science Classroom. National Science Teachers Assosiation. 44(9), 60-61.
Davidman, L., & Davidman, P. (1997). Teaching with a multicultural perspective: A practical guide. New York: Longman.
Gorski, P. (1999). A Brief History of Multicultural Edu- cation. Retrieved from http://www.edchange.org/multicul-tural/papers/edchange_history.html
Johnson, E. (2013). The Principles of Culturally Responsive Teaching & Culturally Responsive School Environments [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.magnet.edu/files/2013-conferences/culturally-relevant-teaching.pdf
Kea, C, & Campell-Whatley, G. (2004). Developing Culturally Responsive Lesson Plans. Presented at 54th Conference Exceptional Children, Greensbroro, 2004. Greensboro, NC.
Ladson-Billings, G. (1994). The Dreamkeepers: Successful teaching for African-American students. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, pp. 17–18.
Larson-Billings , G. (1994). What can we learn from Multicultural Education Research. Educational Leadership, 51(8), 22-26.
Ngozi Adichie, C. (2009, October). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg&feature=youtu.be&list=PLrMqXQ2J_13ubw2OiTy9FdkAYHm_y2IIy
Nieto, S. (1996). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (2nd ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
Slate, S. (Host). (2015, March 5). Cultuarlly relevant teaching: How Do We Create Equitable Learning Enviornments [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.wholechildeducation.org/podcast/tag/Culturally-Responsive-Teaching
Stanley W. B., & Brickhouse N. W., Teaching Sciences (2000). The Multicultural Question Revisited. University of Delaware. 35-47.
Teaching Diverse Learners. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/teaching-diverse-learners/
Wilson, K. (1997). Multicultural Education. Retrieved from http://red.pucp.edu.pe/ridei/files/2012/11/121115.pdf
Brown, P., & Abell, S. (2007) Cultrual diversity in the Science Classroom. National Science Teachers Assosiation. 44(9), 60-61.
Davidman, L., & Davidman, P. (1997). Teaching with a multicultural perspective: A practical guide. New York: Longman.
Gorski, P. (1999). A Brief History of Multicultural Edu- cation. Retrieved from http://www.edchange.org/multicul-tural/papers/edchange_history.html
Johnson, E. (2013). The Principles of Culturally Responsive Teaching & Culturally Responsive School Environments [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.magnet.edu/files/2013-conferences/culturally-relevant-teaching.pdf
Kea, C, & Campell-Whatley, G. (2004). Developing Culturally Responsive Lesson Plans. Presented at 54th Conference Exceptional Children, Greensbroro, 2004. Greensboro, NC.
Ladson-Billings, G. (1994). The Dreamkeepers: Successful teaching for African-American students. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, pp. 17–18.
Larson-Billings , G. (1994). What can we learn from Multicultural Education Research. Educational Leadership, 51(8), 22-26.
Ngozi Adichie, C. (2009, October). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg&feature=youtu.be&list=PLrMqXQ2J_13ubw2OiTy9FdkAYHm_y2IIy
Nieto, S. (1996). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (2nd ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
Slate, S. (Host). (2015, March 5). Cultuarlly relevant teaching: How Do We Create Equitable Learning Enviornments [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.wholechildeducation.org/podcast/tag/Culturally-Responsive-Teaching
Stanley W. B., & Brickhouse N. W., Teaching Sciences (2000). The Multicultural Question Revisited. University of Delaware. 35-47.
Teaching Diverse Learners. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/teaching-diverse-learners/
Wilson, K. (1997). Multicultural Education. Retrieved from http://red.pucp.edu.pe/ridei/files/2012/11/121115.pdf