Most of our educators in the Middle East are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Our teachers should be prepared to teach and support students whose cultural-linguistic backgrounds are different from theirs — effectively implementing culturally responsive pedagogy is essential for our classrooms.
Culturally responsive teaching is using the students' culture and background to enhance their learning experiences in class.
It helps us understand where our students are coming from so we can drive instruction effectively. Culturally responsive practices are at the heart of any school's culture of respect and empathy.
When teachers use culturally relevant instruction, students have more inclusive educational experiences. When local traditions and cultures are employed in our schools, every student feels seen, welcomed, and loved.
Connecting lessons to students' language and heritage makes them more relevant, and it helps students to connect with learning and improves their retention. Celebrating cultural diversity also teaches students to respect others.
Here are some strategies that educators can use to make learning more culturally relevant –
1. Taking time to self-reflect
Self-reflection is a critical component of being an effective teacher. It allows us to step back and look at who we are as a person and as a teacher. We may not want to admit it, but all human beings have certain stereotypes and biases that may have been shaped by our upbringing, peers, education, or personal experiences.
Lack of awareness about our biases can impact our actions, such as being unfair when grading student papers or judging students based on how they dress and how they act. Teachers are often key role models for many students, and our behaviours can impact how students treat one another. When teachers ignore racist behaviours in their classes, they encourage those behaviours to continue.
2. Creating a student-centred classroom
Knowing our students is essential. Knowing their names and academic history and generally understanding students' cultural backgrounds. Knowing students' cultural and religious practices can help us rethink and direct our lessons, even if it sometimes means going beyond scripted lessons to adapt them to our classrooms.
It is also important to know that valuing local culture and diversity is much deeper than the appearance of our classrooms, like bulletin boards and school events and activities, namely multicultural fairs. Culturally responsive pedagogy is deeper and focuses on student learning, cultural competence, and critical consciousness. Here the attention should be on what we do and use in our lessons.
3. Rethinking our classroom libraries
Often, there is a disconnect between what is being taught in the classroom and students' day-to-day lives. Having a classroom library that reflects students' cultural background is a pathway to connect students' lives to learning in the classroom. Inviting students to bring books that reflect their traditions and share them with their peers allows students to take pride in their own cultures.
4. Engaging students' families and community
Our efficacy as teachers also comes from engaging our students' families and community. Family engagement is more than having families attend school meetings. When seeking resources to enhance our lessons, we can consider collaboration from the students' families and community, such as inviting local parents and community members to talk to students about their history and culture.
Culturally responsive instruction is reciprocal. It is not just the students and schools who benefit from it; the culture and community are also elevated through the school's programmes. It offers students an opportunity to learn their own culture and gives the student a sense of worth that they belong.
Massrat Shaikh
The writer is an educational psychologist
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