A Closer Look at Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

Student Name:

Purpose

This activity provides you the opportunity to describe contemporary factors that affect the development of educational public policy by evaluating the need for creativity and problem-solving in the decision making process.

Instructions

For this activity, you are going to explore contemporary factors that affect the development of educational public policy.

Complete the following six steps in order, using the spaces provided in this document. You will submit your completed A Closer Look At Culturally Relevant Pedagogy document to the A Closer Look At Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Dropbox folder in the course.

Step One

Brainstorm what you think of for each of the following terms in the spaces provided below. It’s important that you use your own thinking; please don’t refer to outside resources.

Term	Brainstormed Associations/Meanings
“Other”
“Marginalized”
“Minority”
“Majority”

Step Two

Now, review the discussion of “Culturally Relevant Pedagogy” on page 415 in your textbook. Apply what you have learned by responding to the prompts in the spaces provided below:

What is culturally relevant pedagogy? (essential characteristics)	What is culturally relevant pedagogy NOT?
Examples of culturally relevant pedagogy:	Non-examples of culturally relevant pedagogy:

Step Three

Points to Ponder – Read and think about this definition of culture:

“Culture defined as such is not a static entity that a culturally responsive teacher can easily identify because culture is interactive, affects a person’s life, and is continually changing.” (Michael Vavrus, quoted in the chapter “Culturally Responsive Teaching”)

In the space provided below, explain how Vavrus’ definition connects to the discussion about culture on page 405-406 of your textbook?

Step Four

Regarding the different theories this chapter explores (critical theory, cultural deficit theory, cultural subordination theory, genetic deficit theory), with which one(s) do you MOST DISAGREE?

Explain why you disagree.

With which theories do you most AGREE?

Explain why you agree.

What do you think of when you hear the term “acting White?”

What does the textbook chapter state about the idea of “acting White?” (see page 412)

Step Five

Now, watch the brief video “Being Smart Does Not Mean Acting White” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1L3NnKYolk and then respond to the following prompts in the spaces provide below.

What is teacher Bill Davis’ message about the concept of “activing White?”

Explain how you feel about what teacher Bill Davis shared in the video.

Step Six

Upload your completed A Closer Look At Culturally Relevant Pedagogy document to the A Closer Look At Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Dropbox folder in the course.

SAMPLE SOLUTION