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Four Methods to Culturally Responsive Teaching

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Four Methods to Culturally Responsive Teaching

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Culturally responsive teaching methods acknowledge students' unique ethnic backgrounds, cultural identities, and individual experiences in a classroom. Making learning contextual involves connecting academic content to students' lives and experiences, making it relevant and engaging (American University: School of Education, 2019). These strategies aim to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment that respects and values all students' cultural backgrounds, ultimately enhancing their educational experience (Burnham, 2024). An example of a science project where students need to form an idea to address a problem with a community locally or globally can be supported with the 2019 film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, written, directed, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Instituting diverse texts means incorporating various perspectives and voices in the curriculum, including those from different cultures and communities (Muniz, 2019). For example, Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan can become a lesson that integrates social-emotional learning and English language arts through journaling and Q&A discussions.

Effective multicultural education fosters relationship-building by creating a supportive classroom environment where students feel valued (National Equity Project, 2025). Collaborative projects, such as writing argumentative essays or organizing debates in English language arts and history classes, encourage respectful communication and critical thinking. Students can work with partners and take a stance on a topic.

Understanding students’ holistic needs acknowledges that their academic, social, and emotional well-being are interconnected, allowing educators to tailor instruction based on cultural values and experiences (Koshy, 2017). For example, a fascinating history lesson may involve students presenting research and knowledge about their family trees, ancestors, traditions, or festivals.

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Four strategies for curriculum integration are contributions approach, additive approach, transformation approach, and social action approach.

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Four strategies for curriculum integration are contributions approach, additive approach, transformation approach, and social action approach.

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Integrating ethnic studies into the curriculum has been shown to boost high school GPAs and attendance, as highlighted by a case study from the San Francisco Unified School District (Penner & Dee, 2016).

Various approaches, including the contributions, additive, transformational, and social action approaches, can enrich the curriculum by incorporating diverse perspectives.

Contributions Approach: This method introduces cultural content and perspectives to the curriculum without significantly altering it. Thematic units are effective in introducing cultural information. For example, a history lesson on the Civil Rights Movement can be effectively presented using cultural literature, such as Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russel Freedman.

Additive Approach: This approach incorporates diverse perspectives into the curriculum, often without changing its core structure. An example of an English language arts class lesson would include group book presentations. Each group can then present their book's themes, cultural context, and character perspectives to the class, promoting discussions that honor different views. Some possible literature titles encouraging students to discuss cultural contexts and themes might be The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, Persepolis, and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi.

Transformation Approach: This approach fundamentally alters the curriculum, encouraging students to view concepts and issues from multiple perspectives. One case study performed in a math class over two years showed evidence of social injustice while applying math to the real world (Gutstein, 2003). Project-based learning can also engage students in examining global issues like climate change. In a science lesson, students can investigate climate change impacts in different countries. For a final project, they can reflect on their analysis of how various communities are affected and propose solutions, considering cultural differences in response to environmental challenges.

Social Action Approach: This approach encourages students to engage in social action and motivates them to address real-world multicultural issues creatively. In a case study that led students to successfully close two liquor stores near a school, students researched and investigated zoning laws and presented findings to state and local governments (Tate, 2009). An art lesson example may be inviting guest speakers and engaging with local ethnic artists to further enhance students' understanding of different perspectives.

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Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russel Freedman

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Incorporate books and reading materials that represent various cultures and perspectives. Create a classroom library with authors from different backgrounds and stories reflecting diverse experiences. For example, alternate between books featuring protagonists from different cultural backgrounds during reading time.

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Incorporate art forms and music from various cultures into your lessons. Study traditional art techniques, musical instruments, and cultural expressions. Have students create art projects inspired by different cultural traditions and learn about the historical significance behind various art forms. Invite guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and insights with the class. This approach enhances students' understanding of multicultural perspectives and allows them to connect learning with real-world experiences.

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Integrate cultural mathematics concepts by exploring number systems, patterns, and mathematical contributions from different civilizations. Study the origins of mathematical concepts and how different cultures have approached problem-solving. Include real-world examples that reflect students' diverse backgrounds.

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Dorothy Roberts: Bringing Different Perspectives into the Classroom (Roberts, 2014)

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When teaching historical events, present multiple perspectives and narratives. Include viewpoints from different cultural groups involved in historical events. Use primary sources from various cultures and encourage students to analyze how different groups experienced the same historical moments.

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Dorothy Roberts: Bringing Different Perspectives into the Classroom

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Support English language learners while valuing their native language. Use visual aids, provide bilingual resources, and encourage students to share their language knowledge with peers. Create word walls that include multiple languages and celebrate linguistic diversity.

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Organize regular cultural celebration days where students can share their heritage. Include activities like traditional food sharing, cultural dress days, and presentations about family traditions. Make these celebrations educational and respectful.

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Create assignments that allow students to explore and share their cultural identity. Design projects where students can interview family members about their heritage, create family trees, or develop digital stories about their cultural background.

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Create a visually inclusive classroom environment with posters, artwork, and displays that represent different cultures. Include maps showing students' heritage countries, multilingual welcome signs, and student-created cultural artwork.

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Establish clear classroom guidelines that promote respect for cultural differences (P, 2024). Create these rules collaboratively with students and display them prominently. Include specific examples of respectful behavior and language use.

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When Tatiana Sandoval's family first arrived in the United States from El Salvador, her parents were nervous to show up at her school because of anxiety about cultural and language barriers.

"They were scared that no one was going to understand what they were saying," she said.

Almost 15 years later, Sandoval is the school community coordinator for a high school in Prince George's County, Maryland, serving a campus that is markedly more diverse than the schools she attended as a young student.

She says the representation of many cultures on campus is what keeps her school community connected.

"People are more likely to go somewhere if they think someone that looks like them and speaks like them will be there," she said. "When you want to gather families together, you have to meet the families where they are."

But diversity alone may not be enough for immigrant students to feel affirmed in their identities. An inclusive school culture is one where students feel comfortable being themselves, and protected from the harm that comes from disrespect and discrimination. When educators, school counselors and administrators intentionally try to create a representative, respectful school culture, students' socioemotional development can thrive.
Use the links below to navigate the resources in this article.
Teaching Respect and Self-Respect to Students

Children can perceive racial differences between themselves and others much earlier than adults often believe. When adults recognize and embrace children's abilities to identify differences and group others together, they have an opportunity to frame these differences in a positive, open-minded manner.

Discussing and affirming differences in appearance such as hairstyle, skin color, clothing and other physical features can help children practice respecting others (PDF, 270KB) as they continue to learn about their peers' backgrounds, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and more.

Practicing respect outwardly toward others can help young people foster self-respect, too.

"People tend to think respect is just what you give to other people," Sandoval said. "Teaching self-respect is where you start taking care of yourself and learning that your health is all-inclusive. It's your emotions. It's your physical health. It's how you relate to others."

Laying the foundation of these two terms early in cognitive development may help young students apply them to their identities later in life.

Defining and Identifying Respectful Behavior

Building connections rooted in kindness and trust.

Caring for others and where they come from.

Feeling like a part of your community.

Building a sense of belonging and purpose.

Trusting your own intuition and needs.

Feeling comfortable and proud of your identity.

Failing to feel empathy for others' experiences.

Discriminating against other cultures or lifestyles.

Assuming others are going to betray you.

Fearing people who are different from you.

Losing the essence of your community and connection.

Feeling ashamed of your identity.

"Respect and identity go hand-in-hand," Sandoval said. "If you don't respect each other, you lose your identity as a group, as a collective. That's where people feel lost and like they're not being heard, and that's where all the miscommunication begins."

Miscommunication and misunderstanding, Sandoval said, are at the core of the barriers immigrant students and their families face when trying to become an active and accepted part of their new communities.

Amid the rising numbers of young migrants seeking asylum and residence in the United States, violence toward immigrant communities has also increased. Regardless of their immigration status, minors are legally entitled to a K-12 education in the United States, but it can be difficult to manage for young people who feel isolated and disrespected by their classmates or teachers.

When adults model respect through empathy, kindness and understanding, young students learn from watching their behavior, which leads to a more robust culture of respect among the student community.

Building a Culture of Respect in K-12 Schools

Just as students evolve over time, so does a school's culture. Therefore, making an effort to update guidelines, curricula and other resources can keep school culture relevant and applicable to the current student population.

"A constant needs assessment is important," Sandoval explained. "Realizing who is in your building, what languages and dialects they speak," can help school staff understand the range of identities students may have.

One way to fulfill a need for more culturally respectful standards is to incorporate multicultural education into the curriculum when possible.

Multicultural education is "teaching that incorporates the histories, texts, values, beliefs and perspectives of people from different cultural backgrounds," and can be practiced at the individual, classroom or campus level.

Instructionally, this may look like teaching students about cultures different from their own, but Sandoval said there's much to be learned from identifying and learning the cultures of student peers as well.

"My culture could be completely different from another El Salvadorian that has just arrived in the country," she explained. "It's about coming together and learning about one another, learning what our culture looks like to us, and learning about those differences that could differ from how you've seen it before."

Strategies for Incorporating Multicultural Education at School

Have school staff participate in multicultural competency and empathy training on a recurring basis.

Review curricula for exclusive, discriminatory or harmful content about specific cultures or ways of life.

Implement bystander intervention training for students and staff to learn how to advocate for each other.

Incorporate games or activities into lessons that help students learn about each other in a positive way.

Affirm cultural celebrations by allowing students to observe them at school or in class with each other.

Have translators available to communicate with parents and family members during parent-teacher conferences.

Post signage throughout the school that includes translations in multiple languages or dialects.

Employ school staff at every level who reflect the cultural diversity of the student population.

Offer orientation programs for students and their families who are new to the school or community.

Use storytelling to build empathy and understanding among students, teachers and other staff members.

Sandoval offered ideas for implementing multicultural education at the macro and micro level in a school setting:

Storytelling can be a powerful tool (PDF, 8.1MB) to help students feel connected to their peers and their heritage. When students and teachers are able to share stories about where they come from, they create opportunities to find similarities among different cultures and build upon complex identities.

"Here is someone that is similar to where you're from, and this is what their story is like," Sandoval said. "Having those moments of storytelling really makes it."

On a personal level, learning about different lifestyles can help students understand they are more than the culture they come from; in fact, their personal style, hobbies, interests, musical tastes and more also shape their identities.

"Working with families that come from a variety of countries means that you really have to get to know the person for who they are individually," Sandoval said.

The focus on individual needs is supported by research from the Middle School Journal published by the Institute of Education Sciences that says caring for the social and emotional needs of students is a crucial part of teachers' roles when building a culture of respect. Identity formation is a pivotal part of adolescence, so creating a school culture rooted in individuals' respect can support students in their identity exploration and self-actualization as they grow:

What Is a Culture of Respect?

Students and teachers intervene when they witness bullying.

Students feel understood by their educators.

Students feel emotionally safe on campus and around school staff.

School staff knows and affirms the cultures of students and families.

Students' needs are taken seriously by school staff.

Activities for Teaching Students About Cultural Respect

Building an inclusive school culture can start in the classroom. Sandoval said interactive games are a helpful, low-stakes way to get students to open up and engage with each other.

"You really get to learn about the students and what they're doing in their culture," she said. "But then the students, themselves, really get to see who has the same qualities in their culture."

Even if none of a student's peers has the exact same culture at home, Sandoval said it's eye-opening for students to understand that every family has unique traditions and lifestyles, which can still help them feel less alone.

Educators can have students learn about each other through these teachable lessons and activities that can be used for in-person instruction or completed as homework. Click the buttons below to download and print each activity.
ACTIVITY 2: ICEBERG Download "Iceberg" Worksheet (PDF, 365KB)
Description: Students can visualize the perceivable traits of their culture and heritage, and lesser visible or unconscious aspects of their culture.

For grades 6-12 students.

When students are given opportunities to build their identities and support for respecting themselves, they become socially and emotionally able to offer that same respect for others. These skills lead to a culture that lasts far beyond the length of the school year, and can turn into lifelong respect for themselves and people from different cultural backgrounds.

"​​This is a skill that they can continue to do in the future," Sandoval said. "It's that continuous advocacy that they learn with me, and one day, if they'll be parents, I hope that they continue to give back."

Additional Resources for Teaching Children about Cultural Respect

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Teaching Students How to Respect Cultural Diversity

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This guide can provide some helpful strategies for teaching children and students respect for different cultures. Explore activities that incorporate multicultural education.

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Set up a dedicated space for multicultural resources (Rock, 2021). Include books, magazines, and digital resources that reflect diverse perspectives. Rotate materials regularly and create reading challenges that encourage exploration of different cultures.

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Organize workshops where family members can share their cultural traditions, skills, or knowledge (Gerzon-Kessler, 2024). This could include cooking demonstrations, storytelling sessions, or craft workshops. Schedule these events at varied times to accommodate different work schedules.

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Four Engaging Methods for Educators to Families and Communities

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Four Engaging Methods for Educators to Families and Communities

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Open communication channels should be regular and adequate. Educators should maintain consistent communication with families through multiple platforms (e.g., email, school website, social media, in-person meetings). Two-way communication encourages feedback and open dialogue with families, making them feel heard and valued. All communication should be clear and concise. Teachers should ensure that communication is easy to understand and accessible for all families, regardless of their background or language.

Family involvement can take many forms. Collaborative Learning can help encourage families to participate in school activities, events, and decision-making processes (Benner, 2023). This collaboration builds social skills and teamwork. Schools should promote volunteering to create welcoming environments for families who want to volunteer their time and skills. A good practice is regularly soliciting family feedback to understand their needs and preferences.

Utilizing technology can be multiple communication channels, such as email, social media, mobile apps, or creating a user-friendly online portal to provide a centralized platform for families to access information, communicate with teachers, and participate in school activities (Gross, 2022). Some potential apps might be ParentSquare, Bloomz, ClassDojo, Remind, or TalkingPoints. Offering online learning resources can support families in their children's learning journey. Some options to review are Khan Academy, Duolingo, YouTube Kids, Epic!, NASA at Home, Google Arts & Culture, Brighterly, IXL Learning, Skillshare, and Outschool.

Collaboration with community organizations is essential. Partner with local businesses and organizations to connect with community members who can provide valuable resources, support, and learning opportunities (Patete, 2024). Organizing community events to host events that unite families and community members, creating a sense of belonging and collaboration. Utilize community resources to leverage local libraries, parks, and community centers to enrich students' learning experiences.

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School-Community Engagement: 5 Steps to Creating Impactful Partnerships | New Leaders Blog (New Leaders, 2022)

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Develop partnerships with local cultural organizations and community groups. Invite community leaders as guest speakers, organize field trips to cultural centers, and participate in community cultural events. These partnerships create authentic connections between classroom learning and real-world cultural experiences (New Leaders, 2022).

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You've most likely heard the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child." We could also say that "it takes a community to raise a school."

When we think about "community" in schools, we're often looking through the lens of our students, faculty, staff, and our families, working to create engagement and a sense of belonging among these groups. However, there's another key group that's part of your school family-the community organizations, local businesses, government-led entities, event organizers, and affinity groups that are located in your neighborhood and district.

There are plenty of benefits in partnering with these organizations and stakeholders. A critical element of next-generation learning is that students are able to connect with, learn from, and contribute to the world around them. Connecting with community partners is a great way to harness the expertise that exists in your backyard. Collaborating with them might also be an opportunity to meet the needs of your students and staff that may otherwise go unmet. Building these relationships is also a step toward a community-centric idea of schools-where there's equal thought given to how a school can contribute to a community and vice versa.

A critical element of next-generation learning is that students are able to connect with, learn from, and contribute to the world around them. Connecting with community partners is a great way to harness the expertise that exists in your backyard.

If you haven't had the chance to explore opportunities for fostering meaningful community partnerships in your school or district-or you'd like to refocus your efforts for the school year ahead-these five actions will give you a jump-start. For a full list of innovative strategies, read our series: Innovative Ways to Create a Positive School (and District) Culture.

Audit your community resources and identify opportunities to partner

It's tough to know what types of community partnerships can be explored if you aren't aware of what's out there. One great way for school leaders to find out more about the resources at their disposal is to conduct a community resource audit.

Within your school district, research-or have a member of your staff research-all of the local businesses, nonprofit and social service organizations, neighborhood associations, after-school programs, government entities, and libraries that are located in your district. Separately, begin to identify the needs that exist in your school, whether it's something that you'd like to offer as part of your curriculum that can't be offered currently or a service you'd like to provide your students and families. After you conduct these two audits, see where there might be connections to fuel student success.

For example, if there's a credit union in your district, would it be possible to partner with them on financial literacy courses for your middle and high school students? Is there a way to work with a handful of small and corporate business partners on a series of career workshops to get students of all ages to contemplate what their future could look like? Don't be afraid to think big at this stage. And consider what a partnership might look like through the lens of these organizations-how can your school contribute to their "big picture"?

Take a "community walk"

Once you've done your research, take the time to create authentic bonds with the organizations and businesses you've identified as high-priority partners by meeting them in person. Consider a distributed leadership approach to getting started with these conversations by forming a community partnerships team comprised of faculty, staff, and even parent volunteers. Start reaching out to the groups you believe would have a mutual interest in working together.

When you and your team meet with these organizations, be sure to share your vision for what a school community partnership might look like between them and your school. Engage in conversation around what their thoughts are, whether they've embarked on similar initiatives before, and what they're looking for in a school partner. And ask them for their honest thoughts on how the school can better contribute to the community.

While it would be wonderful to walk away from these meetings ready to work together, remember that the goal of these conversations is to build a foundation for the future. Make sure the discussion ends with an open invitation to connect and agree to follow up within a certain time frame.

Define a shared vision for the partnership

Just as your school has a shared vision for moving toward a mutual goal, any partnership you embark on with a community organization should align with their mission-and yours, too.

A great example of this comes from Rommel Loria, the former Director of Civic Engagement at The Park School in Baltimore. One of the initiatives he planned while at the school was with a nearby senior living community. He arranged a series of visits between his school's first-graders and the community's residents. The students had the opportunity to build positive, educational relationships with residents by reading to them, talking with them, and listening to their stories. At the same time, the school was also able to support the community's mission by providing an enriching activity for its senior residents.

Just as your school has a shared vision for moving toward a mutual goal, any partnership you embark on with a community partner should align with their mission-and yours, too.

Identifying opportunities where both sides of the partnership win make it easier to collaborate on additional initiatives in the future.

Start small, then expand

When you find a great community partner fit, it can be tempting to make a splash and immediately start working to roll out something big. If this partnership is going to impact your students, what's the sense in delaying?

We know that the school year ahead, while different from the past two school years, won't be a normal one. You might find that you lack the time and resources for a full-scale initiative. So, start with a test partnership.

Maybe your vision is a large after-school program where you partner with several community organizations to offer options for your students based on their interests. Try a scaled-down version with two to begin. Perhaps with the pandemic, you've seen an uptick of students and families who are working through a crisis or have non-academic needs. You might begin by partnering with your local housing authority on one aspect of those needs before you expand to others.

The people and organizations in your local communities have plenty of experience and expertise-and tapping into this expertise can have reciprocal benefits for your school, students, and community for years to come.

Evaluate and communicate partnership progress and challenges

As you lock in your partnerships, make sure you're also weaving in consistent opportunities for evaluation of the partnership's effectiveness. You've chosen these partners because of their fit with the current needs of your school, teachers, staff, and families-and an evaluation process is important to make sure the assumed fit is the right one.

Similarly, work with your community partners to create a mutual communication plan to share progress, successes, and challenges. Doing this will not only create awareness and transparency among your school community, but it can also serve as a blueprint for how to ensure success for future partnerships.

Schools don't need to educate alone

While a school is certainly responsible for a large portion of your student learning, schools and districts can't, and shouldn't, operate in isolation. The people and organizations in your local communities have plenty of experience and expertise-and tapping into this expertise can have reciprocal benefits for your school, students, and community for years to come.

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School-Community Engagement: 5 Steps to Creating Impactful Partnerships | New Leaders Blog

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You've most likely heard the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child." We could also say that "it takes a community to raise a school." When we think about "community" in schools, we're often looking through the lens of our students, faculty, staff, and our families, working to create engagement and a sense of belonging among these groups.

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The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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This is a collection of twelve short stories by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, exploring the complexities of life as an immigrant from Nigeria. Each story focuses on a different perspective.

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The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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This story is about two Afghan women whose paths become intertwined when married to the same man years apart. One woman is an illegitimate child and forced to marry an abusive husband. When the other woman becomes the second wife, a friendship is formed from adversity and strength.

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

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Experience a year in the life of a 12-year-old Mexican-American girl who moves to Chicago.

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Persepolis and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi

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A graphic novel autobiography of a young girl's preteen years in a religious Islamic household.

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Four Methods to Creating a Cultural Learning Space

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Four Methods to Creating a Cultural Learning Space

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Integrating students’ cultural backgrounds into discussions is essential to developing a multicultural classroom. Analyze current global material and have students respond to this current event, literature, art, or even scientific contributions from their perspective and the perspectives of their family (University of San Diego, 2022). They should include ideas that represent their culture and beliefs.

In addition to inclusive pedagogy, multicultural assignments are also an effective method. Incorporate experiential learning projects through hands-on learning experiences to allow students to engage with different cultures directly. Students will participate in community service projects that serve a culturally diverse neighborhood. Community service paired with a research component, where students learn about the history and challenges faced by that community, develops empathy and understanding through real-world interaction.

Peer collaboration through interdisciplinary learning can be accomplished through facilitating projects that span multiple subjects and involve diverse perspectives (MILO, 2025). Encourage students to work together in groups, creating a sense of community and promoting the exchange of ideas and perspectives. For example, a science lesson might be about studying ecosystems, and students could investigate invasive species and identify traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous communities in their region. This lesson can be paired with a social studies research project where the students research and identify practices of communities from which an invasive species came. By bridging science with social studies, students can appreciate how different cultures approach environmental stewardship and understand the interconnectedness of knowledge and practice across disciplines.

Ultimately, these practices enrich the educational experience and create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for all students.