Capacity

Building Series
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SECRETARIAT SPECIAL EDITION # 35

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Towards Equity and Inclusivity in
Ontario Schools
Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy (2009) provides a framework for
Some definitions ... building an inclusive education system. The strategy identifies ways to remove
Diversity – The presence of a discriminatory biases and barriers to student achievement and well-being that relate
wide range of human qualities and to ethnicity and race, faith, family structure and socio-economic status as well as
attributes within a group, organization to sexual orientation, ability and mental health. To support implementation, Policy
Program Memorandum No. 119, released by the ministry in the spring of 2013,
or society.
requires all Ontario school boards to develop an equity and inclusive education policy.
Equity – A condition or state of fair, The goal is nothing less than the provision of equitable learning opportunities for all
inclusive and respectful treatment of students in all Ontario schools.
all people.
This monograph emphasizes how crucial it is to acknowledge our students’ multiple
Inclusive Education – Education that social identities and how they intersect with the world. It is designed to spark conversa-
is based on the principles of acceptance tion and support educators as they seek to give life to equity strategies and policies. Its
and inclusion of all students. intent is to deepen understanding of teaching practices that engage student populations
with a full range of differences in learning background, strengths, needs and interests.
(Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive
Education Strategy, 2009)
Culture is about ways of knowing ...
Culture goes much deeper than typical understandings of ethnicity, race and/or faith.
It encompasses broad notions of similarity and difference and it is reflected in our
students’ multiple social identities and their ways of knowing and of being in the world.
In order to ensure that all students feel safe, welcomed and accepted, and inspired
to succeed in a culture of high expectations for learning, schools and classrooms
must be responsive to culture.

The Capacity Building Series is produced by the Student

November 2013 Achievement Division to support leadership and instructional
ISSN: 1913 8482 (Print) effectiveness in Ontario schools. The series is posted at:
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/.
ISSN: 1913 8490 (Online)
For information: [email protected]

support every child

reach every student
 Culture is a resource for learning ...
Gloria Ladson-Billings (1994) introduced the term “Culturally Relevant Teaching”
to describe teaching that integrates a student’s background knowledge and prior
home and community experiences into the curriculum and the teaching and
learning experiences that take place in the classroom. There are three central
tenets underpinning this pedagogy: (1) holding high expectations for all students,
(2) assisting students in the development of cultural competence and (3) guiding
students to develop a critical cultural consciousness. In this student-centred frame-
work, the uniqueness of each student is not just acknowledged, but nurtured.

Other theorists, among them Gay (2000) and Villegas and Lucas (2002), use the terms
Making a better space “Culturally Responsive Teaching” or “Culturally Responsive Pedagogy” to describe
teaching that recognizes all students learn differently and that these differences may
for everyone ...
be connected to background, language, family structure and social or cultural identity.
“Inclusion is not bringing people into what Theorists and practitioners of culturally responsive pedagogy more than acknowledge
already exists; it is making a new space, the “cultural uniqueness” of each student; they intentionally nurture it in order to
a better space for everyone.” create and facilitate effective conditions for learning (Brown-Jeffy & Cooper, 2011).
They see student diversity in terms of student strengths; they orient to it as presenting
(Dei et al., 2000)
opportunities for enhancing learning rather than as challenges and/or deficits of the
student or particular community.

Culturally responsive pedagogy is not about “cultural celebrations,” nor is it aligned

with traditional ideas around multiculturalism. It involves careful acknowledgement,
respect and an understanding of difference and its complexities.

Theorists write about three dimensions which comprise culturally responsive pedagogy:

1. Institutional
2. Personal
3. Instructional
The institutional dimension refers to the administration and leadership of school
systems, including the values developed and reflected in school board policies and
practices. It highlights the need to critically examine the formal processes of schooling
which may reproduce particular patterns of marginalization. Educators need to consider
which patterns need to be intentionally interrupted and changed.

The personal dimension encompasses the mindset of culturally responsive educators

and the practices they engage in, in order to support the development of all students.
Not only are culturally responsive educators self-aware, but they also have a deep
knowledge of their students and how they learn best.

The instructional dimension includes knowing learners well and considering the
classroom practices which lead to a culturally responsive classroom.

All three dimensions are foundational to the establishment of an inclusive school

culture (Richards, Brown, & Forde, 2006).

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Where we are in Ontario ...
To support culturally responsive pedagogy, school leaders promote reflection, face
complex issues head on, find ways to honour community and support authentic Leaders take on the role
collaboration among all stakeholders. of catalyst ...
“School leadership acts as a catalyst without
Here are some inquiry questions for school leaders: which other good things are quite unlikely
What does a school look like, sound like and feel like when we promote to happen.”
reflection, honour the community and support authentic collaboration (Leithwood et al., 2004)
among staff, students and parents?
What does a classroom look like, sound like and feel like when it is
inclusive and when instruction is responsive to the full range of student
diversity?
What further information would be helpful in considering cultural relevance
and cultural responsiveness in our school?
How do we work with our communities to help everyone appreciate the
importance of culturally responsive teaching?
What is the impact on our students when we do not acknowledge the
complexity of culture and difference?

Across the province, it is strongly believed, and well supported by research, that
there is a strong correlation between school leadership and student achievement.
According to Leithwood et al. (2004), leadership is second only to teaching with
regard to impact on student outcomes.

Although principals are not as directly involved with students as classroom teachers
are in terms of day-to-day instruction and learning, they do make a difference.
Further, as outlined in Ontario’s Leadership Framework, it is the responsibility of
school and system leaders to be responsive to the increasingly diverse nature of
Ontario communities by ensuring that schools are inclusive and welcoming of diversity,
as reflected in both school climate and the classroom learning environment.

The institutional dimension of culturally responsive pedagogy underscores the

significance of education policy and the way schooling is organized. At the school
level, it means paying attention to school budget priorities, the relationship between
parents and the community and how curriculum and instruction impact the conditions
for student learning and student experience. While Ontario is highly regarded
internationally as a leader in improving student achievement and supporting
student well-being, there is still much work ahead.

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The Mindset of Culturally Responsive Educators
Culturally responsive teachers share a particular set of dispositions and skills – a mindset that enables
them to work creatively and effectively to support all students in diverse settings. In the next few pages
these characteristics, as outlined by Villegas and Lucas, are identified.

Characteristic #1 Socio-cultural
consciousness Characteristic #1
Socio-cultural
Canadian research continues to affirm that
consciousness
“membership in the white middle-class group
affords individuals within this group certain An awareness of how
socio-cultural structures
privileges in society,” while those outside of
impact individual
this group experience challenges (Dei, et al., Characteristic #3 experiences
2000). This is because society is influenced Desire to make and opportunities.
by the norms established by the dominant a difference
group (Gay, 2002; Dei et al., 2000). Cul- See themselves as
turally responsive educators understand their change agents working
position in our present social, historical and towards more equity. Characteristic #2
political context; through questioning
High expectations
their own attitudes, behaviours and beliefs,
Hold postive and
they come to terms with forms of discrimination
affirming views of
which can affect the experiences of students
all students of all
and families in multiple ways. backgrounds.
Self-reflection is foundational to the examination
and identification of one’s own biases. This
critical process includes understanding the issues
related to the distribution of power and privilege
and the relationship of power dynamics to one’s
intersecting with race and low socio-economic
own social experience. Self-reflection also allows
status – have been deemed as contributing to
us to recognize how our own social identity
notions of “at-risk-ness” in students (Dei, 1997;
is constructed and to think about how social
Portelli, Vibert & Shields, 2007).
identities are positioned and shaped by society.
This is what it means to possess socio-cultural Culturally responsive educators hold positive
consciousness. and affirming views of their students and their
ability to learn and achieve academic success.
Characteristic #2 High expectations They demonstrate genuine respect for students
and their families as well as a strong belief in
The perceptions we hold of students’ abilities have
their potential. They consider the social identities
a significant impact on student achievement and
of students as assets rather than as deficits or
well-being (Ladson-Billings 1994, 2001, 2011).
limitations.
However, historically, some social identities –
particularly those linked with disabilities or

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 Characteristic #4 Constructivist
approach
Culturally responsive educators build upon the
Characteristic #4 varied lived experiences of all students in order
Constructivist approach to bring the curriculum to life. Through this
Understand that learners approach, they integrate locally situated learning
construct their own Characteristic #5 into daily instruction and learning processes.
knowledge. Deep knowledge Constructivist approaches promote
of their students inquiry-based learning – they support
Know about the lives of students asking questions and creating new
students and their families; knowledge based on their natural curiosity
Characteristic #6 know how students learn about their own experiences. Knowledge
Culturally responsive best and where they are building is reciprocal because students play
teaching practices in their learning. an active role in crafting and developing
Design and build instruction learning experiences for themselves and their
on students’ prior knowledge peers. This results in making learning relevant
in order to stretch students and accessible for all students in the classroom
in their thinking as they are able to see themselves in the
and learning. curriculum.

Characteristic #5 Deep knowledge

of their students
Characteristic #3 Desire to make It is important for educators to recognize that
a difference parents, caregivers and families know their
children best (Kugler & West-Burns, 2010).
Educators who are culturally responsive see
Therefore, in an effort to know their students,
equitable and inclusive education as fundamental
culturally responsive educators work to build
to supporting high levels of student achievement
strong relationships with their students’ families.
(Ladson-Billings, 2001; Gay, 2004). Consistent
They promote mutual respect between home
patterns of underachievement found in groups,
and school and embrace a collaborative
such as those students with special education needs
approach to teaching and learning.
or those with students from low socio-economic
circumstances, need to be seen as created by Deep knowledge, not just of content, but of one’s
deeply problematic systemic and institutional students as individual learners, enables educators
barriers. Culturally responsive educators are to integrate lived experiences into the daily
committed to being agents of social change, learning of the classroom. Drawing on students’
ultimately working to remove barriers and creating experiences provides teachers with the opportu-
conditions for learning that are beneficial for all nity to represent their knowledge in the curriculum
students (Ministry of Education, 2009). so it is meaningful and students see themselves
reflected in the learning that takes place in the
classroom (Villegas & Lucas, 2002).

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 Characteristic #6 Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices
A wealth of research is available both nationally and internationally on
culturally responsive instructional strategies. At the core of these strategies is
a) holding high expectations for learning while b) recognizing and honouring
the strengths that a student’s lived experiences and/or home culture bring to
Get to know your students ...
the learning environment of the classroom. As Villegas and Lucas observe
“Get to know your students. How do they about culturally responsive educators, “they use what they know about their
self-identify and what community do students to give them access to their learning” (2002, p. 27). Learning
they originate from? What types of print, experiences are designed to be relevant and authentic, enabling students to
video, audio and other experiences
see themselves in the daily learning of the classroom. This sends a message
motivate them?”
to students and the community that student, parent/community knowledge
(Toulouse, 2013) and experiences not only have value, but that they are also important to
the learning in school.

The following are some inquiry questions for culturally responsive

educators:
What questions might we reflect upon to examine our own biases towards
diversity and cultural responsiveness?
How would we start a staff discussion on moving towards cultural respon-
siveness in a more intentional way?
How might we integrate specific life experiences of our students into daily
instruction and learning processes?

Effective instruction matters!

The quality of the instruction and the expertise of the teacher considerably outweigh
the challenging circumstances that some of our students bring to the classroom
(Callins, 2006; Willis & Harris, 2000). Effective instruction also ensures academic rigour
which is essential in a culturally responsive framework; high expectations need to
be coupled with the appropriate supports to scaffold new learning (Gay, 2002;
Ladson-Billings, 2000).

Some strategies to implement a culturally responsive framework are suggested

below. They are adapted from the work of Jeff Kugler and Nicole West-Burns (2010):

Expand upon what is considered as the “curriculum” – recognizing both the

informal and the subtle ways in which the curriculum defines what is and
what is not valued in our schools and society.

Use inquiry-based approaches to student learning to develop engaged and

self-directed learners. Support students in making decisions about their
learning that integrate who they are and what they already know with
their home and community experiences.

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 Use a variety of resources, including community partners, to ensure the
learning environment and pedagogical materials used are accessible to all
learners and that the lives of students and the community are reflected in
the daily workings of the classroom. Resources, materials and books should
present both local and global perspectives.
Take an asset-based
See the curriculum as flexible and adaptive to the lived experiences of approach ...
students so they see themselves and their lives reflected in daily learning
opportunities. “The knowledge children bring to school,
derived from personal and cultural
Know and build upon students’ prior knowledge, interests, strengths and experiences, is central to their learning.
learning styles and ensure they are foundational to the learning experiences
To overlook this resource is to deny
in the classroom and the school.
children access to the knowledge
construction process.”
Ensure that learning engages a broad range of learners so that varied
perspectives, learning styles and sources of knowledge are explored. (Villegas & Lucas, 2002, p. 25)

Differentiate instruction and provide a wide range of methods and oppor-

tunities for students to demonstrate their learning, ensuring both academic
rigour and a variety of resources that are accessible to all learners.

Work to ensure that the socio-cultural consciousness of students is developed

through curricular approaches, emphasizing inclusive and accepting education,
to inform critical examination and action regarding social justice issues.

Here are some questions to provoke thinking about what a more

culturally responsive curriculum might look like:
How do we define relevant and authentic learning opportunities in the
context of our school?
How might we support students in making decisions about their learning
that integrate who they are and what they already know with their home
and community experiences?
How can we lessen dominant perspectives in our curriculum so that
contributions from different backgrounds can be better understood and
integrated into learning?

Preparing to teach all our students ...

Those engaged in the work of culturally responsive pedagogy are “committed to
collective, not just merely individual empowerment” such that the impact of this
approach to teaching is directed towards making change for all members of society
(Ladson-Billings, 1995, p. 160). As educators, we must be prepared to teach all
students while also being committed to preparing students for the reality of a
diverse Canadian and global society. The journey towards equity and inclusivity in
Ontario schools seeks to empower everyone in the learning environment. Such an

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 approach validates and affirms the cultural capital that our students bring to the
classroom each and every day. This journey also brings us closer to reaching our goal
in Ontario – providing relevant and authentic learning opportunities every day for
every student in every classroom.

Here are some ways to think about your next steps in the journey
towards equity:
What will our school conversation focus on?
How might a process of inquiry among staff further this conversation?
If we implement specific strategies to support a culturally responsive
approach to teaching and learning, how will we assess the impact on
student learning and achievement?

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