Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Food and Holidays My school principal told all the teachers at my school at the beginning of the school year that because of the recent changes in the demographics of the school, we had to develop and implement lessons that were Culturally Responsive. I had heard of the term "Culturally Responsive", but I am not the most knowledgeable person about it. So, I did lessons on holidays and traditions in different cultures. I had some lessons on food favored by different cultures. When appropriate, I brought guest speakers to my classroom. The other day I was having a casual conversation with the school principal and she asked me about how the culturally responsive teaching was going. I told her about the things I have done. She said I got it all wrong. I was shocked and hurt by her comment. How am I going to develop and implement culturally responsive lessons? I really do not know. What is wrong with my holidays, traditions, and foods? I thought I was doing a great job. By the way, I teach 4th grade and I have mostly Black and Hispanic children. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) While these things are good to have in the classroom, being culturally responsive involves getting to know the cultures on a deeper level and not just what is considered "mainstream." Inputting materials into your curriculum that have different cultures in it and discussing the different aspects of different cultures is where you want to lean in on.