Resources Available Online

The Diversity Kit: An Introductory Resource for Social Change in Education

This three-part kit aims to bridge the gap between research and practice with insights on language acquisition and the effects of students’ cultural backgrounds on the learning process. It invites educators at all levels, policymakers, and community members to examine their beliefs, perceptions, behaviors, and educational practices with respect to diversity in education. Each of the three sections contains activities, vignettes, and suggestions for further exploration, including Web sites, videos, and print sources. The interactive content of the kit can be used as a starting point for discussions in classrooms, teachers' lounges, schools, state and district offices of education, colleges of education, and communities at large. (2002)
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Leading With Diversity: Cultural Competencies for Teacher Preparation and Professional Development

As the student population in our schools becomes increasingly diverse, many teachers need professional development to build cultural competencies-the skills and awareness related to issues such as culture, language, race, and ethnicity. To address this need, Leading With Diversity provides current research-based information on cultural competencies that will help inform the design of professional development. This resource is designed for higher education, state-, and district-level educators and professional developers who are preparing teachers to work with students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This publication was developed in collaboration with Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL). (2005)
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Pathways to Social Justice: Urban Teachers' Uses of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy as a Conduit for Teaching for Social Justice

This article takes a look at several factors influencing teaching for social justice in urban schools. The researchers used qualitative methods to examine the different approaches of seven urban teachers using culturally relevant pedagogy as a way to teach for social justice. It found that by adhering to the tenets of culturally relevant pedagogy (e.g. personal accountability and cultural critique), these teachers helped their students think critically about how social injustices impact their lives. (2009)
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Additional Resources

Educating All Students: Creating Culturally Responsive Teachers, Classrooms, and Schools

The author discusses the increase of students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds and education in the U.S. The author reports that teachers are attempting to develop a relationship between students' cultures and the school culture, a method that is known as culturally responsive teaching (CLT). The author provides examples of areas in which CLT teachers should be trained and identifies characteristics that are thought to be necessary for an effective CLT teacher. The author also discusses elements of a culturally responsive classroom, offers examples of culturally responsive classroom activities, and discusses the need to make an entire school a culturally responsive environment. (2007)
Intervention in School and Clinic, 43, 57

Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers: Rethinking the Curriculum

To take teacher education and push it past its disjointed, surface-only approach to diversity in the classroom, teachers and educators need to successfully identify and communicate an idea of what it means to teach and learn in today’s diverse society. Today’s teachers must possess an understanding of their students’ lives and have the ability to create lessons that build upon prior knowledge, while introducing a challenging new curriculum. (2002)
Journal of Teacher Education, 53(1), 20–32