Curriculum and Culturally Responsive Teaching

From my recent pondering on the topic of “what is curriculum,” I have found that it is a pretty complex topic, and a word that is generally taken for granted. As educators, we know what curriculum is, but it is hard to talk about curriculum without pulling many other educational topics into the conversation, such as assessment, professional development, professional learning communities.  The word curriculum naturally triggers conversations because curriculum is one of those variables in the education equation that is necessary for any kind of outcome.

Our district is fortunate to have great leadership in the curriculum department.  After spending some time with our assistant superintendent of curriculum, I am confident that if he wanted to write the curriculum for our entire district, he could do it.  But that is not his philosophy.  He believes that curriculum is more impactful if written by those using it--our teachers.

As I learn more about culturally responsive teaching, I am beginning to understand how important it is to ensure that our curriculum is diverse and inclusive.  When our teachers are analyzing the standards and selecting resources and materials to help our students gain all the skills and knowledge they need to be successful community members, they must consider the diversity and culture of our students and our community.  They must weave diverse perspectives and stories into standards-aligned lessons. They must consider who they are writing the curriculum for and include content that honors the diversity in our community.

I have never directly worked on a curriculum team, so I personally don’t know the conversations that happen when our teachers are working on our curriculum.  However, I do know our teachers, and I know the love and dedication they have for our students and our craft.  I know they have built strong relationships with our students and our community.  As their librarian, I will continue to provide and recommend resources that help them bring diverse perspectives into their classrooms and help them adapt lessons to include voices from other cultures and that will help our students feel seen and included in their learning.