Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and What to Look for in a Classroom

 This week's Blog post is on the Introduction to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy by Learning for Justice and What to Look for in a Classroom by Alfie Kohn. Culturally Relevant Pedagogy is important in the classroom because it links students' everyday cultural experiences to what the students are learning. By doing this students will be able to make bridges with each other's cultures. They’ll be able to connect what they know to what is being taught in the classroom. If a teacher is trying to educate their students using one set of cultural filters and experiences that does not align with all students, the students then have to take that information and put it through their own cultural filter. This is what causes students to not completely understand the lessons being taught in the classroom. They’re working overtime to try and understand what is being taught to them. The video makes it very clear that culture and race are not the same thing. Two black children may not have the same cultures and that is completely okay. Just as two hispanic or two white children may not have the same cultures. There needs to be an understanding that race and culture are not the same in the classroom. If an educator assumes that all children of a certain race have the same culture, it can begin the process of stereotyping which is the exact opposite of what we want to do. 

There are many ways a classroom can be set up. But according to Alfie Kohn, there are some staples that increase learning skills and communication. Some of these being open spaces for gathering, chairs that face each other to encourage communication, decorations on the walls of student work, and overall a bright and happy demeanor to the room.These things encourage a safe happy learning environment for students to thrive in. Having a space that reflects what you as a teacher want happening there is vital to learning. Making your space one you and your students can enjoy is another way to make learning easier, just like using culturally relevant pedagogy. Both are vital for a successful classroom.