Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Practices recognize and utilize students' cultural schema or funds of knowledge to engage them more deeply in the learning process. These teaching and learning practices help students grow the "muscles" needed to effectively carry the cognitive load required of them. In turn, this helps students become more independent learners. It provides learners with rigorous, grade-level-appropriate, standards-based learning opportunities that honor student history, culture, language, and unique ways of being.
The principles of Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Practices are:
- High expectations and rigorous instruction
- Welcoming and affirming environment
- Inclusive curriculum and assessment
- Ongoing professional learning
It's important that we all develop the mindsets to support Culturally Responsive Practices. This includes:
- Believing that culture is a critical component to providing ALL students with a high-quality education.
- Believing that ALL students and their families are individuals with their own assets, knowledge, and abilities. They must be valued and consulted.
- Believing that critical and continuous self-reflection is required to recognize and change systemic biases and inequities.
Please click here to access The Office of Equity and Belonging's Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching Hub, developed to provide helpful resources and references in support of our educators and their students.
