Transforming Pedagogy: Culturally Responsive Care in Action

The pandemic has revealed and exacerbated inequities that have negatively impacted students. In particular, school closures and social isolation have affected students\u27 mental and academic well-being (Kuhfeld, 2020). For example, the number of children who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 has reached between 37,300 and 43,000 children already impacted (Rachel Kidman et al., 2021). These losses only deepen their risk for traumatic grief, depression, and disparate educational outcomes (Brent et al., 2021). Caring for students is a critical element of culturally responsive and sustaining teacher’s practice in every learning context. As COVID-19 rages on, educators need to reflect on how we are caring for students, how students experience care, and how enacting culturally responsive caring can lead to a more welcoming and affirming learning environment. The session will guide participants in understanding: What it means to care FOR students. How to move towards culturally responsive caring in their teaching practices. Strategies to enact culturally responsive caring for our students