Culturally Responsive Teaching in Literature & Language K-12
Trainer: Engy Hammam
Duration: 15 Hours
Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the principles and significance of culturally responsive teaching (CRT) in the English language and literature classroom.
2. Recognize and address implicit bias, stereotypes, and cultural assumptions in texts and teaching practices.
3. Select and teach diverse, inclusive literary texts that reflect students’ cultural identities and experiences.
4. Design lessons that connect language and literature to students’ cultural contexts and lived realities.
5. Create a classroom environment that values linguistic diversity and promotes equity in participation and learning.
6. Use culturally responsive strategies to enhance reading comprehension, writing, and discussion.
7. Develop reflective practices for continued growth in cultural competence.
Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Culturally Responsive Teaching
• Definition and core principles of CRT
• Why CRT matters in language and literature instruction
• Understanding culture, identity, and intersectionality in education
• Reflecting on personal cultural lens and teaching practice
Module 2: Recognizing Cultural Bias in Texts and Instruction
• Examining implicit bias and its impact on curriculum and classroom interaction
• Identifying stereotypes and exclusion in canonical and popular texts
• Addressing the “single story” narrative
• Case studies: biased vs. balanced text selections
Module 3: Selecting and Teaching Diverse Texts
• Criteria for selecting culturally inclusive literature (race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, etc.)
• Building a representative and relevant literary curriculum
• Exploring global literature and own-voices authors
• Strategies for engaging students in discussions around identity, justice, and representation
Module 4: Language, Identity, and Linguistic Diversity
• Valuing students’ home languages and dialects (e.g., African American Vernacular English, Arabic-English code-switching)
• Teaching standard English without erasing linguistic identity
• Culturally responsive approaches to grammar, writing, and vocabulary
• Encouraging multilingual expression in writing and oral tasks
Module 5: Instructional Strategies for CRT in ELA
• Creating inclusive classroom discussions and writing prompts
• Using culturally relevant themes
• Culturally responsive reading comprehension and literary analysis activities
• Differentiating instruction for ELLs and culturally diverse learners
Module 6: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
• Building classroom norms rooted in respect and inclusion
• Student voice, choice, and storytelling in the curriculum
• Partnering with families and communities for cultural relevance
• Addressing microaggressions and building empathy through literature
Module 7: Reflection, Planning, and Assessment
• Self-assessment of current curriculum and practices
• Designing or revising lesson plans through a culturally responsive lens
• Student-centered and formative assessment tools
• Developing a personal action plan for continued growth in CRT