Professional Development for Culturally Responsive and Relationship-Based Pedagogy

by Christine Sleeter (Editor)

This book presents a large-scale evaluation of a theory-driven school reform project for relationship-based, culturally responsive pedagogy. The project, iin New Zealand, focuses on improving the educational achievement of Indigenous Māori students in public secondary schools. The project's conceptual underpinnings are based on Kaupapa Māori research, culturally responsive teaching, student voice, and relationship-based pedagogy. Data were produced by a research team who conducted a three-year external evaluation of the project in 22 of the 33 schools implementing its professional development initiative. The book shows the extent to which a well-conceptualized and culturally grounded program in culturally responsive pedagogy, supported by a well-conceptualized professional development program, can shift teacher practices and understandings. These shifts lead to a reduction in the achievement disparities of minoritized students, as well as support for the students as culturally located human beings. While the professional development project in this book addresses Māori students' educational achievement, the study's findings and messages are applicable far beyond New Zealand, because the educational experiences of Māori people are common to many Indigenous and other minoritized peoples in countries around the world.

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Christine E. Sleeter is a researcher, teacher, and writer who is best known for her work in critical multicultural education, and her insights into white people grappling with race. Author of about 20 academic books, she is also author of two novels. She holds the title of Professor Emerita in the College of Professional Studies at California State University Monterey Bay, where she was a founding faculty member. She is a sought-after speaker both in the U.S. and internationally. She has been honored with awards that include the American Educational Research Association Social Justice in Education Award, the Chapman University Paulo Freire Education Project Social Justice Award, the National Association for Multicultural Education Research Award, and membership in the National Academy of Education