A Beginning Urban Educator’s Guide to Understanding the Mindsets and Actions Needed to Harness the Power of Museums and Informal Learning Environments for Meaningful Learning in the Culturally Diverse Classroom

Abstract

This short guide is designed to speak to the novice urban educator that has limited training and experience on how to best meet the needs of a culturally diverse classroom, regardless of subject or grade taught. Through an easy to understand step-by-step guide, new urban educators are illuminated to the power, importance and tenants of culturally relevant and responsive teaching, how informal learning environments, like museums, align and promote culturally responsive and relevant instruction and how to begin to integrate informal learning into their curriculum as a tool to create meaningful, engaging learning in the classroom. Key Words: culturally diverse, culturally responsive, culturally relevant, informal education, museum, urban, teacher guide, meaningful learning