Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP)

Jun 5, 2024

Lecture Notes: Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP) by Dr. Nicole West-Burns

Introduction

  • Speaker: Dr. Nicole West-Burns
  • Topic: Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP)
  • Context: Ontario education system, addressing inequities in schooling

Fundamentals of CRRP

  • Origin: Derived from US concepts of culturally responsive and relevant teaching
  • Initial Focus: Response to educational system failing Black students in the US
  • Objective: Develop an equitable pedagogical approach recognizing existing oppressions in the educational system
  • Core Principle: Shift responsibility to educators to address systemic inequities
  • Not Multiculturalism: While honoring identity and diversity, CRRP aligns more with critical social justice

Ontario Adaptation

  • Integration: Combined responsive and relevant teaching into CRRP in 2008 by the Center for Urban Schooling
  • Culture: Viewed as complex and tied to intersectionality, not monolithic
  • Broader Implementation: Aim to extend CRRP beyond individual classrooms to entire school systems

Seven Tenets of CRRP (Equity Continuum)

  1. Classroom Climate and Instruction
  2. Student Voice and Space
  3. School Climate
  4. Community Connections
  5. Valuing Parents and Caregivers
  6. School Leadership
  7. Professional Development (Building Knowledge)

Components of Culturally Relevant Teaching (Gloria Ladson Billings)

  1. High Expectations
    • Belief in student success
    • Reflective teaching practices to enhance learning
  2. Cultural Competence
    • Creating inclusive spaces where no student feels shame
    • Valuing student identities
  3. Critical Consciousness
    • Challenging dominant narratives
    • Educators and students recognize and address societal oppression

Implementing CRRP in Schools

  • Time Planning: Allocate dedicated time for CRRP in staff meetings (e.g., 15 minutes)
  • Resource Utilization: Use resources like teachingtolerance.org for ideas and strategies
  • Interest-Based Entry Points: Allow educators to start with topics relevant and interesting to their classroom dynamics
    • Example: Addressing gender stereotypes through picture books if relevant to student discussions
  • Encouraging Engagement: Observation and listening to student interests and interactions
  • Parallel Learning: Educators and students learning together; curriculum aligning with students' real lives to boost engagement

Conclusion

  • CRRP is an active approach that not only aims to change classroom practices but also challenges and addresses larger systemic issues of oppression and inequity within the school system for a more inclusive and democratic society.