Reflection Post #6

 Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

    As educators, we must strive to be culturally well-versed. We must be aware of different cultures and sensitive to the ideas and needs that accompany them. Teachers must learn to appeal to and reach all of their students. Educators should be consistently learning, as well as unafraid to try new ideas/methods within their classrooms. I believe it is also important that teachers attempt to learn from their students. Asking questions and presenting an interest in students' culture can help build a beautiful connection. In the video, "Introduction to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy" the speakers mention tangible and intangible culture. Tangible culture is the crafts, music, arts, and technology. Pairing tangible culture with Alfie Kohn's ideas of "good signs" within a classroom can help to cultivate a diverse and welcoming environment for students. Additionally, intangible culture such as values, beliefs, feelings, opinions, and perspectives, should be incorporated into the daily routines/teachings within a classroom. In the video, Jackie Jordan Irvine says, "Teachers take students' everyday lived cultural experiences and make the appropriate linkages between what the students know and do and understand and come up with examples, comparisons, and contrasts. They make the connections. They are cultural translators. They are cultural bridge builders." To be a cultural translator or cultural bridge builder, you must first be knowledgeable and willing to learn about many different cultures. It is not just acceptance, but welcomeness. We cannot give what we do not have, so we must set an example for students and be excited to learn! 

These are some notes I took from the video embedded in this post.