No More Culturally Irrelevant Teaching

by Ellin Oliver Keene, Carmen Lugo Llerena, Jessica Martell

Every child is a cultural being with a unique history and rich cultural practices; a member of communities in and outside of school. Yet too many children spend their days inside classrooms where they rarely find their voices, values, and cultural practices reflected in curriculum materials, much less embraced and celebrated through instructional practices.

Culturally relevant teaching is essential, now more than ever. If we want children to develop as successful learners, we must communicate that they belong in our classrooms. They need to see themselves, their cultures, their families, and their communities reflected in the materials and resources they find there.

Culturally relevant teachers honor students' identities by positioning them at the center of teaching and learning. Each and every day, they make sure children and their families feel that they belong in school. They include multiple perspectives and points of view in the curriculum.

In this book, four teachers who teach in richly diverse classrooms and have studied culturally relevant pedagogy for years with researcher Mariana Souto-Manning, share specific practices, strategies, and tools that make their teaching culturally relevant. Join the authors of No More Culturally Irrelevant Teaching and show your students that their lives do matter...in teaching, in learning, and in society.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2018

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very slim book on teaching all children. I especially liked the metaphor of mirrors (where children see themselves and their own culture) and windows (glimpses into other races and cultures).

[clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very basic, introductory text. Provides many resources for further study. I particularly like the teaching examples provided in section 3. This is a great resource for the Diversity Task Force I facilitate at my elementary school.

[Emily Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful little book all teachers should read—especially teachers from groups in power. It is filled with research, strategies, and stories to ensure that our language and teaching decisions honor all students, raising our consciousness, empathy, and practice. The ideas about tapping familial knowledge bases and guiding classroom conversations were super helpful for me. I highlighted all over these 70 pages and will recommend to my colleagues. Thanks to Ellin Keene and Nan Duke for commissioning these authors to write this book!

[JoEllen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for reflection, action and more around what authors define culturally relevant teaching as: “a complex web of mindsets, plans, and practices that place students at the center of all decision making.” Proud to work and collaborate with one of the authors. Lots of great things happening in these classrooms. Definitely celebrates a curriculum of children.

[Michelle Picard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series - Not This, But That and this is an important topic. The book defines culturally responsive teaching and provides a few concrete elementary examples. I was disappointed that secondary audiences are not considered.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots to chew on, despite being fairly short.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expanded my thinking

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food for thought. Need to consider middle school activities.

[Kim Fontana]

I usually love this series and this topic is very important to me. Unfortunately, I didn't find that I learned a lot that was new. Nevertheless, it's a valuable book if you aren't familiar with the research, e.g funds of knowledge, strategies, e.g. culturally responsive teaching, and mindset (be a learner about your own culture and others'). I would recommend Zaretta Hammond's text as a nice companion to this one.