What is Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy?
According to Samy Alim and Dijango Paris (2017), this way of teaching:
affirms and respects the key components of the Asset-Based Pedagogies that preceded it, but also takes them to the next level. Instead of just accepting or affirming the backgrounds of students of color as seen in Culturally Relevant Pedagogy; or connecting to students’ cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and frames of reference as we see in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy; Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy views schools as places where the cultural ways of being in communities of color are sustained, rather than eradicated.
So, what does this mean for language learners in the United States?
Here are some specific ways this may be manifested in schools from a culturally sustaining approach, asset-based approach, and deficit-based approach:
Factor: Primary Language
Culturally Sustaining Approach
Work on using students’ language(s) in the classroom often
Implement full immersion programs
Asset-based Approach
Gift to be recognized
Helpful for future employment
Deficit-based Approach
Problem to overcome
Barrier to learning
Factor: Families and Community of MLs
Culturally Sustaining Approach
Enhance the learning and development of all students
Invite them to present in the classroom and school
Asset-based Approach
Engage in their child (ren)’s education
Encourage interaction at home with all their linguistic backgrounds
Acknowledge their culture and lived experiences as a benefit to student learning
Deficit-based Approach
Discourage cultural learning and practices at home
Make derogatory comments about MLs’ lived experiences
Factor: Neighborhood
Culturally Sustaining Approach
Develop critical community engagement with businesses and other organizations in neighborhoods where MLs live
Asset-based Approach
Ask neighborhood businesses to contribute finances or products to the school
Deficit-based Approach
Call the neighborhood a “ghetto”
Describe the neighborhood as “sketchy” or “dangerous”
Make comments such as, “Have you seen where they live?”
Factor: MLs’ Countries of Origins
Culturally Sustaining Approach
Study the resources and positive practices of the country
Asset-based Approach
Acknowledge the countries
Pin the locations of the countries on a map
Deficit-based Approach
Discuss the country with a pity narrative
Only focus on the war or economic insecurity of the country
Which examples do you implement? Why?
What other examples might you suggest under these approaches?
Why are culturally sustaining approaches affirming for MLs?
Please click the “like” button if this is useful for you.
Yes to all of this! I am proud of my school, Dual Immersion Academy, for our culturally sustaining approach to learning! This year, we are working to develop more relationships with our parents and community. Love the idea of inviting community members to present in the classroom!