In 2022 and 2023, UFV faculty and staff from across the institution came together to explore resources and share experiences in three separate communities of practice on Culturally Responsive Pedagogy.
The result was amazing conversations… and folders full of excellent teaching and learning resources!
It seemed a shame to keep them hidden away, so with the support of UFV Library’s Diane Cruikshank, they have been organized into a public UFV Libguide.
You can find it here: Libguide on Culturally Responsive Teaching
What is Culturally Responsive Pedagogy?
For some, the reference to “culture” can be a bit misleading – it’s not actually about teaching culture. It’s more about seeing students’ backgrounds, experiences, and cultural forms of learning as assets that can be built on. Any educator can adopt culturally responsive pedagogy, whether you’re teaching math, nursing, coding, writing, plumbing, or visual arts.
The Libguide is structured around a model and reflection guide produced by New America, that identifies 8 core competencies of culturally responsive educators:
- Reflect on one’s cultural lens
- Recognize and redress bias in the system
- Draw on students’ cultures to shape curriculum
- Bring in real-world issues
- Model high expectations for all students
- Promote respect for student differences
- Collaborate with families and local communities
- Communicate in linguistically and culturally responsive ways
How to use the Libguide
For each competency, you’ll find:
- reflection questions
- conceptual readings
- practical ideas for the classroom
You could go through each competency in order, or if you’re looking to strengthen your practice in a particular area, you could begin there. Engage with it individually, or better yet, if you know some interested colleagues, work through it together for increased accountability.
Share your practices
Are you already teaching in ways that align with Culturally Responsive Pedagogy? Share your resources and practices with the TLC and we’ll add them to the libguide.
We grow in community. Let us celebrate your amazing work!
For more information on how to set up a Libguide for a topic of interest or a course, contact a UFV Librarian.