Culturally Responsive Educators:

Diversity as a Resource for

Successful Teaching and Learning

Dr Jawiria Naseem

UCL Institute of Education

University of Buckingham

27th May 2015

Aims

• Provide tools for reflections on personal

assumptions to recognise how culturally

responsive education (CRE) impacts student

outcomes

• Understand CRE to develop inclusive learning

environments

Connect the dots

Connect the dots

Connect the dots

• No quick-fix solution to teach you how to teach culturally diverse students

• Self-reflection is critical because each student has his/her own needs

What is DIVERSITY?

Diversity

Equality

Inclusion

Fairness

Tolerance

and more

Understanding each other

Acceptance

Anti-bullying Anti-discrimination

Equal Opportunities

Value differences

Respect

Religion

Culture

Gender

Is Diversity new to the UK?

A little bit of history...

• 44-410: Roman invasion

• 400-800: German Iron Age

• 800-1066: Vikings

• 1066-1200: Norman invasion

• 16th century: Slave Trade expansion

• 20th century: WWI & WWII

Why talk about Diversity in schools?

White 76.4%

Mixed 5.3%

Asian 10.2%

Black 5.6%

Chinese 0.4%

Percentage of pupils by ethnic group in primary schools in the UK in 2013

Source: National Tables, January 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/

Percentage of pupils by ethnic group in primary schools in 2013

Source: National Tables, January 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

White Mixed Asian Black Chinese Any Other Ethnic Group

UK

England

London

Is understanding Diversity only

important for Teachers?

Some facts...

• 60% of the children questioned believed it was true that “asylum seekers and immigrants are stealing our jobs”

• 35% agreed or partly agreed that “Muslims are taking over our country”

Source: Charity Show Racism the Red Card

How can YOU engage students in

critical thinking?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SsccRkLLzU

What is Culturally Responsive

Education?

Definition

Culturally responsive education refers to the identification of cultural implication and adaptation of pedagogical approaches that meets students’ cultural and academic needs. [...] By doing so, teachers will create classroom that promote success for all students.

(Gay, 2000)

IDENTIT-IES

• Plural concept

• Intersection of various axes

• Majority and minority ethnicities

• Student is an individual and NOT representative of ANY group

Why is being a culturally responsive

educator important?

Life Race

Life Race

White man

in

employment

Asian man

A refugee

Lesbian

Person with

learning

difficulties

A lone

mother

White

working

class man

Black

African

woman

Achievements at GCSE, KS4 (5 A*- C grades in English and Maths) by ethnicity, FSM and gender in 2013

28.3

39.5

48.6 43.1

74.1

46.5

37.1

48.2

57.2 53.3

79.5

56.8

White Mixed Asian Black Chinese any other ethnic group BOYS GIRLS

How do we move forward?

‘You may identify but not feel that you ‘belong’ in the sense of being accepted or being a full member’ (Anthias, 2006)

How can I feel a full member?

I can feel a full member if...

• My cultural heritage is acknowledged as legitimate

• I know how to praise my own as well as others’ cultural heritage

• I can build bridges between my school and my home

• My teacher adapts his/her teaching strategy to my learning style

What can YOU do?

YOU CAN...

1. Integrate a diverse reading list that demonstrates the universal human experience across cultures

2. Go beyond the textbook

3. Create multicultural projects

4. Suggest that your school host an in-service professional development on multi-cultural education in the classroom

‘There is no one best practice but several

good practices’

(Mirza & Meetoo, 2012)

‘Equal opportunities start from education’ (Gillborn, 2001)

‘Learn to know your STUDENTS...

so that students can learn from

YOU!’

Jawiria