Kozeleski (p.1) states that culturally responsive teaching "connects students’ cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and performance styles to academic knowledge & intellectual tools in ways that legitimize what students already know."

In Chapter 3, Vacca and Vacca points out that culture has both surface and deeper features, like foods, dress, holidays, values, and belief systems.

What is culturally responsive teaching?

So what exactly does that mean?

Basically, being a culturally responsive educator is learning your students, their backgrounds, family lives, culture inside and outside of school, and what going to school means to them.

It's making sure to include cultures other than those of white Americans, like Asian Americans, Afrian Americans, Latinos/as, Mexicans, and etc. in readings and lesson materials so all students can feel connected and represented.

And it's also about making sure to recognize differences in students, bring them to light, and educate all students on different cultures.

Where can you learn more about culturally responsive teaching?

A short PDF by Elizabeth Kozleski gives a lot of information on what it means to be culturally responsive in the classroom and why it's important for students.

An important point she makes is that materials and literature need to be varied and explore different points of view for events and lessons so that all students can feel represented in the classroom.

PDF can be found here:

http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/sites/default/files/Website_files/CulturallyResponsiveTeaching-Matters.pdf

What are some effective methods or strategies from the readings/viewings?

Chris Gable's YouTube video

Readability Test

Think Alouds

Why are these strategies effective?

-Chris shows that by understanding students will be on different levels, you can group them in ways that will help them without isolation

-This test will help you write in ways all your students can understand, no matter their reading level; gives helpful tips on how to simplify your writing. Vacca and Vacca also describes its importance in chapter 4; all students need to understand what you're trying to say.

-Helps students to see your own process, how you work through a problem, how you write out your ideas. This ties in visual literacy by allowing students to SEE the process laid out in front of them, and to see how you approach problems.

What are some effective methods or strategies from the readings/viewings?

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP)

Visual Thinking Strategies

Before-During-After Model

Why are these strategies effective?

-SIOP, according to the video, allows for students to to be free and learn at their own pace, "sheltering" two subjects together at once. This lets students work in a safe environment, which can lessen anxiety, and help them learn better.

-According to the Common Core blog post, Ann Watts Pailliot's notion of deep view, which includes literal observation, interpretation, and evaluation, helps students to understand visuals better - it improves visual literacy.

-In chapter 3, Vacca and Vacca describe the BDA model as a way to help students connect to the lesson/material the whole time, not just in a summative test at the end. It's a good way to keep students involved and interested.