Using an Iterative Approach to Systematically Observe Culturally Responsive Practices Across Classrooms

Abstract

Though culturally responsive practices (CRP) are widely lauded as important for educational practice, the field to date does not have a systematic video-based strategy to observe CRP across classrooms. Through a qualitative review of 68 classroom videos from the Measures of Effective Teaching dataset, we examined the presence, absence, and antithesis of CRP. Strikingly, our analyses revealed that CRP were largely absent from the observations. Building upon our meticulous and reflective iterative process, we discuss measurement challenges and link findings with practice-focused recommendations that can serve to bolster teacher education in a crucial domain for an increasingly complex, multicultural society.