---
title: 'What is culturally responsive teaching? '
description: Culturally responsive teaching helps create learning environments that validate and reflect the diversity, identities, and experiences of all students. Learn more.
slug: what-is-culturally-responsive-teaching
author: Educators Team at Understood
reviewer: Karla E. Vigil, MAT
published: '2019-11-14T16:24:38.474Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/1RvjXNe67LckiNrMDDN4NG/a398a1cfe0282d0e681055ba52d07f51/G1320972631.png
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-culturally-responsive-teaching
lang: en
---

# What is culturally responsive teaching? 

Culturally responsive teaching is a research-based approach to teaching. It connects students’ cultures, languages, and life experiences with what they learn in school. These connections help students access rigorous curriculum and develop higher-level academic skills. 

Our brains are wired to make connections. It’s easier for our brains to learn and store information when we have a hook to hang it on. That hook is background knowledge. Students bring this knowledge to the classroom every day.

But for students of color, English language learners (ELLs), and other underserved student populations, those assets are often overlooked. When that happens, educators miss the chance to use them to support learning. (See [recent work by Zaretta Hammond](https://us.corwin.com/books/cultural-responsv-teaching-brain-241754) for the neuroscience behind this.)

Culturally responsive teaching values and reflects the assets of all students. By doing that, it raises academic expectations for all learners. It also sends the message that multiculturalism *is* an asset.

*Lydia Breiseth (director of *[*Colorín Colorado*](https://www.colorincolorado.org/)*), Shivohn García, PhD (senior director of the Impact team at Understood), and Shaquala Butler (Understood Teacher Fellow) contributed to this article. *

---

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