Culturally Responsive Practice - What is it?

As a school we are having another look at being Culturally Responsive. I have had the privilege to be involved in discussions and had information given to me at other school too. 

To be a Culturally Responsive Teacher we need to be careful not to fixate on any one culture.

Being Culturally Responsive is part of being a Certified Teacher - Criteria 9

- respond effectively to the diverse language and cultural experiences, and the varied strengths, interests and needs of individuals and groups of -akonga

     i. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of social and cultural influences on learning, by         working effectively in the bicultural and multicultural contexts of learning in Aotearoa New Zealand
     ii. select teaching approaches, resources, technologies and learning and assessment activities that  are inclusive and effective for diverse - akonga
     iii. modify teaching approaches to address the needs of individuals and groups of - akonga

As effective teachers we all try to reflect on our own behaviour in class to see if what we did could have been done better whether it worked or not. 

We know as effective teachers the importance of knowing our students inorder to build the relationship with them and their families, even when this is tricky.

Being judgement free isn't always easy but it is important. I have been in a school previously where Leaders were judged harshly this filtered down to the teachers and onto the students. It does not help make for positive learning gains. But as teachers need to break the cycle as this could be the same environment students are dealing with at home.

With the students I teach I try to making learning hands on and interesting helping to get the buy to help accelerate learning.

Slides thanks to Ruth Kereopa.