Unit 1: Defining and Understanding Culturally Resposive Practice

Return to: Andrea Stowell's Mini-Course | Unit 2 | Unit 3

Lesson 1- Culture

Objective: I can define and list elements of cultural diversity.

Introduction

Before starting this lesson, please write a short paragraph (around 100 words) that explains what you think of when you hear or read the word "culture." How do you define culture in your own words? What elements do you think relate to culture? Please post your response in the Google Slides link I have provided (I would provide one for each real-life professional development taught).

What is culture? Culture can be defined in many ways. Everyone has their own opinion, experience, and understanding of what culture means. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, but its definition does surround the fact that groups of people identify in their own unique way that may be similar or different than others. According to Safe and Caring Schools for Newcomer Students (as cited in McLaughlin-Phillips, 2010) culture is "the unique system of beliefs, attitudes, customs, and behaviors that identify a particular group. Cultural norms guide behavior and determine thoughts and actions. Culture contributes to social and physical survival."

Development
When you click on the links and want to go back to, click the back button because the link doesn't create a new tab!

• Please read Moving Toward Cultural Responsiveness (page 2) to get an understanding of surface and deep culture along with elements that people are usually aware and unaware of.
• Please read Moving Toward Cultural Responsiveness (page 3) to learn about differences in cultural behaviors.
  
• Please read What Is Culture? to take a look at different definitions of culture.
  
• Please watch What Is Culture? to learn about different cultural characteristics.

Closing
Please revisit your initial posting from the introduction of this lesson. Using the resources I provided, expand, modify, or argue your initial thoughts (your definition and the elements related to culture) by writing a new 200-300 word paragraph. Feel free to use outside references as long as you cite the work you use. When you finish, please go to the Google Slides link I provided (I would provide one for each real-life professional development taught), add a new slide AFTER your original one, and paste your new paragraph.

Read two of your classmate's initial posts and closing posts. Give your classmates feedback by commenting on their slide. In addition, write a summary (125-200 words) of anything new you learned from their discoveries or an idea you can expand on. Email me your summaries in one email and clearly label your classmate's names.

Lesson 2- Culturally Responsive Practice

Objective: I can define and summarize culturally responsive practice.

Introduction

To begin this lesson, please watch Culturally Responsive Teaching. Please write 150-200 words on how you see any or all of the five elements implemented in your classroom, school, or school district. If none of the elements apply to your work experience, write about how you think you can start to include one of the five in your current or future practice. Please post your work to the Google Slides I have provided (I would provide one for each real-life professional development taught)

With cultural demographics in schools changing, educators need to be informed and obtain knowledge of cultural differences and how to address them in and out of school. Culturally responsive practice is a way to rethink content and instructional practices in a more racially and culturally appropriate way. According to Howard (2012), one of the purposes of culturally responsive pedagogy is to "create learning environments that allow students to utilize cultural elements, capital cultural, and other recognizable knowledge that they are familiar with to learn new content and information in order to enhance their schooling experience and academic success" (pg. 3).

Development
When you click on the links and want to go back to, click the back button because the link doesn't create a new tab!

• Please read Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Practice (slides 4-5 and 11-16) to learn about the dimensions and characteristics of culturally responsive pedagogy.
  
• Please read Turning It Around: Strategies for Working with Culturally Diverse Students (slides 3-5) to learn about elements that make up culturally responsive practice.
• Explore Culturally Responsive Teaching to further your understanding of culturally responsive teaching characteristics. Focus on the opening paragraph that explains what culturally responsive practice is. We will be using this reference in unit 2 and 3 as well, so it would not hurt to take a look at links one through seven as well.
  

Closing
Please write 350-400 words that include your own definition of culturally responsive practice and what it means to you. Summarize your ideas based off of the information I have provided. Feel free to use outside references as long as you cite the work you use. After you have finished, post your entry on the Google Slides I provided (I would provide one for each real-life professional development taught). Once everyone has posted, I will assign each of you a partner and will reorder the slides appropriately. You will read your partner's entry and work together to create an additional slide (added after yours and your partner's) that compares and contrasts your combined ideas of culturally responsive practice.

References

Howard, T. C. (2012). Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. In Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education (pp. 1-7). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Retrieved November, 2018

McLaughlin-Phillips, K., Neth, H., Ritchie, S., Groth, L., & Michael, P. (2010). Understanding ESL Learners: Moving Toward Cultural Responsiveness— A Guide for Teachers. Retrieved November 15, 2018.