SEL+and+Culturally+Responsive+Practices

[|ASD and Culturally Responsive Practices]: It is very important that we are teaching to the whole child, but SEL skills look different in different cultures. For example, we can't assume that making direct eye contact is a solid social skill, as eye contact mores differ in different cultures. To that end, our adopted SEL standards have gone through many listening sessions, allowing a lot of lenses to share their opinions of our work. Additionally, we have teamed up with the Culturally Responsive Education Action Committee of the Anchorage School District to infuse Culturally responsive practices within our district. Cultural Responsiveness is so important to us that it has a chapter in our strategic Six-Year Plan.



One of our favorite tools to have come out of this partnership is our Continuum. This continuum shows 'standards' for teachers. Those bolded are the ones we have identified as teaching practices that would not only help with the building of culturally responsive practices, but also building Social and Emotional Skills.



Activity Ideas for a Culturally Responsive action plan

1. Do a study group of relevant readings. 2. Provide sample lesson plans that are culturally responsive. 3. Identify what your school is doing and what they want to do next on the continuum. 4. Work on everyone in the school getting past Level 1. 5. Do S.I.O.P./ cooperative teaching strategies/ Acquiring Cultural Competence trainings. 6. Brainstorm activities your school does and then do a school assessment using those activities. 7. Discuss ways to communicate the continuum to parents/community. 8. Incorporate the continuum into model proposals for teacher evaluations. 9. Do a parent assessment/focus group to determine cultural responsiveness. 10. Include moving through the continuum as part of the school action plans. 11. Take relevant classes. 12. Use the continuum as an individual or school-wide pre- and post assessment tool.



For more information see the following website: [|ASD and Culturally Responsive Practices]