The term was coined by researcher Geneva Gay in 2000, who wrote that “when academic knowledge and skills are situated within the lived experiences and frames of reference for students, they are more personally meaningful, have higher interest appeal, and are learned more easily and thoroughly.” What is the definition of culturally responsive teaching?Ĭulturally responsive teaching means using students’ customs, characteristics, experience, and perspectives as tools for better classroom instruction. This explainer unpacks what it means to be a culturally responsive teacher, how all these research terms are related, and where other academic concepts such as critical race theory tie in-or not. As a result, legislation gets written in ways that could stifle efforts toward equity in schools, such as policies that can help underserved students, researchers say. Some politicians have conflated culturally responsive teaching with separate academic concepts and initiatives, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. But as a growing number of states seek to pass legislation banning the teaching of the academic concept known as critical race theory in K-12 schools-as well as more broadly limiting classroom discussion on topics of race, gender, and sexuality-this work is caught in the fray.
