Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) is much more than knowing all the world holidays, hosting a school culture day, or celebrating Black History Month. CRT is a brain and research-based pedagogy shown to reduce, and in many cases even eliminate, the underlying causes of the achievement gap that disproportionately affects our culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Teaching…What’s culture got to do with it? will show you how to effectively reach and teach culturally and linguistically diverse students through teacher and educational reformist Zaretta Hammond’s research-based Ready for Rigor Framework (RFRF). This course will help you: develop real cultural awareness; build culturally responsive alliances and learning partnerships with students; understand the neuroscience behind how culturally and linguistically diverse students learn best; know and use culturally responsive activities and teaching strategies; and establish a culturally and ethos friendly classroom. Becoming a culturally responsive teacher will give you the tools you need to engage your culturally and linguistically diverse students, develop their intellective capacities, turn them into independent learners and put them on the road to academic and lifelong success.
This course is presented in a modified, self-paced format. Participants are expected to access the course regularly and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules.
Teaching…What’s culture got to do with it? will show you how to effectively reach and teach culturally and linguistically diverse students through teacher and educational reformist Zaretta Hammond’s research-based Ready for Rigor Framework (RFRF). This course will help you: develop real cultural awareness; build culturally responsive alliances and learning partnerships with students; understand the neuroscience behind how culturally and linguistically diverse students learn best; know and use culturally responsive activities and teaching strategies; and establish a culturally and ethos friendly classroom. Becoming a culturally responsive teacher will give you the tools you need to engage your culturally and linguistically diverse students, develop their intellective capacities, turn them into independent learners and put them on the road to academic and lifelong success.
This course is presented in a modified, self-paced format. Participants are expected to access the course regularly and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules.
Organization
This is a 3 credit hour course, organized into modules by topic. Course goals will be met through instructor designed activities, supplemental readings, videos, tests, and sharing through forums. The coursework is designed to allow participants opportunities for reflection and practice. The instructor will provide feedback and coaching on activities and assignments.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will...
1. Understand the connection between cultural and linguistic diversity and the achievement gap
2. Understand how culture affects the brain, student learning and achievement
3. Be able to build their own cultural awareness
4. Know how to be culturally responsive educators by working within the Ready for Rigor Framework, which includes:
A. Building their own cultural competence and awareness
B. Creating learning partnerships and alliances with diverse students
C. Increasing intellective capacity through the stages of information processing, cognitive routines and culturally responsive
activities and strategies
D. Creating an environment supportive of both cultural and ethos
Course Topics
*How culture affects the brain and learning
*Closing the achievement gap with CRT
*Building awareness and understanding cultural archetypes
*Building Learning Partnerships through rapport and alliances
*The stages of Information Processing
*The connection between mental routines and elaboration
*Culturally responsive strategies and activities
*Creating a culturally responsive community for learning
Grading
Grading is the same whether the course is taken for graduate credit or for license renewal. Students are required to participate in all discussion forums and to complete all assignments and/or activities. A=90%-100%; B=80%-89%-Because this is a graduate level course, scores must be 80% or better to receive credit.
Required Text
Hammond, Z. (2015). Culturally responsive teaching & the brain: Promoting authentic engagement and rigor among culturally and linguistically diverse students. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. It can be ordered through local bookstores or purchased online.
This is a 3 credit hour course, organized into modules by topic. Course goals will be met through instructor designed activities, supplemental readings, videos, tests, and sharing through forums. The coursework is designed to allow participants opportunities for reflection and practice. The instructor will provide feedback and coaching on activities and assignments.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will...
1. Understand the connection between cultural and linguistic diversity and the achievement gap
2. Understand how culture affects the brain, student learning and achievement
3. Be able to build their own cultural awareness
4. Know how to be culturally responsive educators by working within the Ready for Rigor Framework, which includes:
A. Building their own cultural competence and awareness
B. Creating learning partnerships and alliances with diverse students
C. Increasing intellective capacity through the stages of information processing, cognitive routines and culturally responsive
activities and strategies
D. Creating an environment supportive of both cultural and ethos
Course Topics
*How culture affects the brain and learning
*Closing the achievement gap with CRT
*Building awareness and understanding cultural archetypes
*Building Learning Partnerships through rapport and alliances
*The stages of Information Processing
*The connection between mental routines and elaboration
*Culturally responsive strategies and activities
*Creating a culturally responsive community for learning
Grading
Grading is the same whether the course is taken for graduate credit or for license renewal. Students are required to participate in all discussion forums and to complete all assignments and/or activities. A=90%-100%; B=80%-89%-Because this is a graduate level course, scores must be 80% or better to receive credit.
Required Text
Hammond, Z. (2015). Culturally responsive teaching & the brain: Promoting authentic engagement and rigor among culturally and linguistically diverse students. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. It can be ordered through local bookstores or purchased online.