Culturally responsive teaching is just not recognizing the cultural background of students. A teacher in a dynamic multicultural environment must support culturally sensitive teaching practices, which is necessary to create a learning environment that is engaging and accessible to a wide array of students.
Catering to the requirements of an economically and culturally diverse classroom is a challenge for a school system. Teachers must be prepared for resolving potential conflicts that could occur because of cultural differences amongst students in a classroom.
Evaluate your behavior
His/her culture influences each individual’s attitude. If a student's culture is different, a teacher must be sensitive to the differences in the thought process that could occur in the classroom. The initial step to developing a culturally responsive classroom is understanding your actions and adopting a culturally inclusive mindset.
Get to know the students better
Teachers must be proactive while learning about the various cultural backgrounds of the students in a classroom. It would be appropriate to research the background of students. It would be impossible to create a culturally responsive classroom without getting to know the students as individuals. Teachers must demonstrate a genuine interest in the student’s understanding of content and their overall well-being. Establishing a culturally responsive classroom is about nurturing an environment in which students from different cultures feel comfortable and willing to learn.
The classroom must be judgment-free
Students must be able to view circumstances about culture with an unbiased view and be comfortable seeking answers to improve their understanding. If an interaction occurs regarding a current event, an honest discussion must be encouraged. However, the discussion must be directed towards learning and not criticizing. Students must be motivated to challenge the status quo by asking questions. Critical thinking in a classroom must become the norm. Students must be mentored to value other's differences. Introvert students must be encouraged to voice their opinions.
Adapt your teaching
Culturally responsive teaching is a technique that is student-focused. It determines not only the differences between students but the distinct strengths of every student to support their academic achievement and sense of being accepted in a classroom.
Teachers must ask themselves some critical questions
*Are there activities in a classroom that do not benefit every
*student? What activities would keep every student engaged?
*What actions would bring the best reaction from students?
It is vital to honestly evaluate the existing teaching practices and adapt instruction and curriculum to consider every student's backgrounds and preparedness.
Include all cultures in your teaching
Teachers must select the content that reflects the various cultures of students. The lesson plan must comprise multicultural information. If a teacher supports individuals from a specific background, it would not be possible to create a multicultural environment.