Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies By Krisin Burnham

Engaging in a teaching style that is culturally sensitive allows students to share their varied cultural backgrounds. Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) encourages an inclusive classroom environment by implementing students’ cultural understandings into the curriculum. This method of teaching recognizes and heavily values the diversity of its students, which then makes them more excited to participate in learning. A sense of belonging is fostered and the gap of achievement inequalities is closed by the teachers' acceptance of diversity (Solomon, 2023). All in all, CRT sets students up for success both in the classroom and in a diverse community. As a young teacher, I always struggled to find the best way to teach my students in a way that

Unlike traditional teaching methods that might not accurately represent the different experiences and cultures of students, CRT values and acknowledges the cultural backgrounds of its students in every classroom. Engaging students’ previous understandings, contextualizing learning, and encouraging them to utilize their heritage in the classroom helps teachers and students develop close relationships. In short, CRT aims to ensure that the knowledge and skills that students develop in the classroom are reflective of their cultural backgrounds and identities. Rather than using a rigid, potentially counterproductive teaching approach, CRT takes into account the varied backgrounds and ways of thinking present within the classroom. Therefore, it incorporates material that students are already familiar with and understand into lessons (Burnham, 2020). Activating students’ prior knowledge, according to Burnham, happens when culturally responsive teaching recognizes and builds upon students’ life experiences, cultural diversity, and preexisting knowledge to promote previous

In addition to helping students use their existing knowledge, teachers should also support them in making the most of their cultural heritage. Culturally Responsive Teaching appreciates student guidance and pushes students to take a more active role in their education. By sharing their cultural experiences, viewpoints, and thoughts, students are given an opportunity to take responsibility for their academics and make significant use of their cultural diversity. It is important to cultivate an inclusive and diverse classroom. Using culturally responsive teaching techniques helps minority students validate their experiences in and out of the classroom. Teachers are able to seek a more dynamic and extensive educational experience for their students. “When you have a mixed classroom, you want those in the minority to feel like they are an expert. You want to draw from their experiences” (Burnham, 2020). The significance of creating an inclusive and empowered learning environment where students from minority backgrounds feel acknowledged, respected, and appreciated for their cultural competency is highlighted in this