We’re talking about race and culture, but what does it mean to have “culturally relevant curriculum”?  In 1994, Gloria Ladson-Billings defined the term as “a pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes.” Essentially, teachers enhance the curriculum and state requirements to include connections between the students’ home and school lives.

What do you do in your classrooms to be culturally relevant?  What books would you recommend?  What other ways do you enhance the learning for your students?

Mentoring and support are the foundations for successful learning.  So, what’s going on at your school site to keep your students engaged?  Post your comments below.

Not sure where to get started?  Check out this guide published by the National Mentoring Center on effective relationship development.

RAPSA’s Global Professional Learning Communities invite you to attend a FREE Collabinar.

Title:  Will the Race to the Top Leave At-Risk Kids Behind?

Date: TBD

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Pacific Time

Register: Reserve your Collabinar seat now at: http://bit.ly/F0JT2

The National Governor's Association has been asked to develop a set of National Standards for all States applying for Race to the Top funds.  While consistency in Standards may provide a level playing field among States, some educators fear that uniform national standards may neglect the unique needs of dropout recovery, special education, English Language Learners, Career Technical Education, and other programs target at risk students.  Join a discussion of how the U.S. Department of Education should deal with these At-Promise Students.                                

Facilitators Include:

Dr. Chuck Weiss, County Superintendent of Schools for Santa Clara County

Stanley Rabinowitz, Director, Assessment and Standards Development Services, WestEd

Jeremy Kilpatrick, Regents Professor, University of Georgia

Dane Linn, Director, NGA Center’s Education Division