Culturally Responsive Teaching

Culturally responsiveness is a set of professional, political, cultural, and ethical, dispositions that extend beyond the act of "teaching" based on beliefs about education, students, their families, and communities. (Pinto)

This aligns with my core value by viewing each student as having forever potential growth and reassuring each child that they are capable of achieving anything.

One culturally responsive teaching competency that I can maintain as a strength is to model high expectations for all students. This confirms my own personal values and is a strength of mine because this is something that I practice everyday, key word “practice”. I believe that If you believe and practice being your best self, this will eventually become a habit. Having high expectations is something that every single person can practice and is a lifelong journey to achieve.

One culturally responsive teaching competency that I am still working on is reflecting on one's cultural lens. I need to constantly remind myself that what is easy for me, may be difficult for someone else. As long as there is growth and movement towards positivity, that is what matters. What I will need to grow in this area is to be mindful of individuals' culture and background. Also, asking questions before I assume.

Pinto. (2016). From discipline to culturally responsive engagement : 45 classroom management strategies . Corwin.