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!) I disagree with the principal and would try to respectfully dispute her comment and try to explain your perspective about why you took the approach you took. In discussing the traditions of various cultures, I would definitely begin with the cultures present within the school, especially within the classroom. But I also agree with your approach and discussing other cultures that may have not been represented. Though it is very important to recognize and try our best to understand the cultures we go to school and later work with, it is also important (I believe) to be as culturally educated as we can. Living in America, and as students progress throughout school and then life, they will come into contact with people from various cultural backgrounds other than those who they are in class with right now.