Culturally Responsive Teaching
We consider how and why our students move through the world the way they do.
Culture is central to learning. Beyond shaping the way we communicate and receive information, research has shown that culture informs the thinking processes of groups and individuals. International High School is in partnership with Stanford University's Center to Support Excellence in Teaching to incrementally implement the principles of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) in classrooms.
Culturally Responsive Teaching is a dynamic pedagogy that recognizes and celebrates the importance of culture and students' cultural references in all aspects of learning. The approach emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth among culturally and linguistically diverse student bodies, such as our own.
While some cultural behaviors are easy to see, such as the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the languages we speak, others are not presented as obviously. Concepts of time, patterns for handling emotions, non-verbal communication, clarity in expression, and even eye contact are all examples of less conspicuous cultural behaviors that impact student learning in the classroom.
Through Culturally Responsive Teaching, our educators are encouraged to know students as individuals and contemplate how the many aspects of the individual informs a particular learning experience. At International, CRT ensures equitable access to education for all of our students.
By approaching each student as an individual, we build a safe, joyful, and inclusive environment for our entire school community.
Just Ask Our Teachers:
"Thinking about my students' rings of culture allows me to consider how and why they move through the world the way they do. The responses I see may not mean what I think upon first instinct. My culture also plays into the responses. CRT is one way we make school more engaging." - Traci Everett, Learning Specialist at International.