ACTION 2.3
Foster inclusive school cultures and classroom environments
We used to think...
Traditional school structures designed for and by dominant cultural norms (e.g., curriculum, conferences, PTA behavior norms, etc.) are the gold standard for elementary schooling. Honoring non-dominant cultures was left for non-curricular events such as “culture night.”
Now we know...
Developing inclusive school cultures and celebrating multiculturalism is multi-faceted, continuous, requires significant intentionality, and should be embedded across all content and the entire school community.
Best Practice Strategies
To cultivate a supportive multi-language learning environment:
Teachers
Improve school and classroom libraries to ensure they not only celebrate multiculturalism, but also represent students’ identities.
Reflect histories of students’ culture using literacy curriculum and instructional practices through an asset-based lens, and highlight untold or historically ignored stories
Connect to students and families using their own experiences and resources as a guide.
Supplement texts and materials with additional “texts” that come from a child’s lived experience/home (videos, letters, media, etc). These artifacts and texts:
Represent and authored by diverse cultures (not just translated into another language)
Are available in multiple languages
Build knowledge, vocabulary and exposure to concepts
Incorporating a child's family and culture into their learning experiences at school
Design and implement a student centered learning environment that is welcoming, affirming, and inclusive.
Resources
How to Actually Implement More Diverse Libraries at Your School
Collaborative Classroom
This article delineates six steps a school can take to diversify a classoom/school library.
Choosing Diverse Texts for Your ELL Students
Colorín Colorado/WETA Public Broadcasting
Learn about some of the factors that can make a difference when choosing texts, including students' interests and experiences, reading levels, and language proficiency levels. This article is part of a guide to using diverse books with ELLs.
English Learner Tool Kit
Office of English Language Acquisition/United States Department of Education
The "English Learner Tool Kit" provides tools and resources for schools and districts to develop inclusive learning environments, including self-assessments for teachers to use as self-reflection. Most specifically, Chapter 5 provides resources to create an inclusive environment for and avoid the unnecessary segregation of English Learners.
Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework
New York State Education Department
The CR-S framework helps educators create student-centered learning environments that affirm racial, linguistic and cultural identities; prepare students for rigor and independent learning, develop students’ abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; and empower students as agents of social change. Pg. 25-30 outlines strategies for teachers to implement 4 keys areas of CRSE.
Attending to Foundational Skills Instruction and CRSE
Achieve the Core
This resource provides concrete suggestions on how to adjust Foundational skills instruction to make it culturally responsive