Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
We believe that for the target population, using culturally responsive pedagogy (“CRP”) is critical for academic engagement. Culturally responsive pedagogy uses students’ experiences as tools for building further knowledge, helping them develop a positive attitude about learning, a heightened self-concept, and pride in their culture. CRP reinforces the notion that home language, vernacular, customs, and beliefs are not being replaced by the academic content being presented but rather, these personal experiences and beliefs are used to help build relevance into the learning experience, facilitating the transfer of knowledge acquired to the world around them. 1
We feel that culture is central to learning. It plays a role not only in communicating and receiving information, but also in shaping the thinking process of groups and individuals. A pedagogy that acknowledges, responds to, and celebrates fundamental cultures offers full, equitable access to education and will help change the current paradigm for our diverse students.
1Gay, G. (2000). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, & Practice. New York: Teachers College Press