Effective, culturally proficient instruction for diverse learners meets the needs of the students in a classroom. It is simply effective instruction that is creative, well-planned, skillfully implemented and equitably assessed. Having information relevant to diverse learners and differentiated instruction is important, knowing how to use that information is one of the fundamental keys for closing the gap in achievement. To be a culturally responsive teacher, one must know one’s own culture, their subject area, and the students they are instructing.

Highlights: Participants will examine their own cultural values and beliefs and how unconscious bias may affect their teaching and learning exchange. They will gain insight into the assets of diverse learners, learning styles and performance, strategies for building resilience, and methods of assessment. Participants will also learn to differentiate curriculum by contextualizing and pluralizing content for relevancy. The useful information, practical strategies, and guided practice will provide the “how-to” that will prepare participants to meet the needs of children from diverse ancestries in a culturally responsive environment.

Run time and Credit Availability: Course runs 8 weeks. Graduate credit is available from California State University-Bakersfield for $435.