Hawai'i State DOE • Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching: Theory, Evidence, and Practice • 3 Credits • UMass Global

Are you ready to teach in ways that truly reach every learner? Through this self-paced, online professional development experience, you’ll gain the knowledge and strategies to make your instruction both culturally and linguistically responsive. You’ll learn how to design lessons that affirm and leverage students’ cultural identities and home languages while applying research-based strategies that foster engagement, equity, and academic success for all learners — including multilingual and ELL students.

Drawing on foundational theory, current research, and best practices from leading scholars in the field, this course helps you move beyond surface-level inclusion toward deep, meaningful responsiveness. You’ll learn how to recognize and interrupt deficit-based mindsets, create linguistically accessible learning environments, and build a classroom culture that celebrates diversity and belonging. Through interactive readings, videos, and real-world case studies, you’ll walk away with concrete tools and frameworks for building a classroom where every student’s background, language, and identity are seen as assets.

• Foundations of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching (CLRT ): Discover the key frameworks and principles behind culturally and linguistically responsive teaching — and what they look like in everyday classroom practice.
• Language-Affirming Instruction: Design lessons that are linguistically accessible and inclusive of students’ home languages, using strategies that strengthen comprehension, confidence, and participation.
• Responsive Curriculum Design: Adapt your existing lessons and assessments to be culturally relevant, linguistically supportive, and academically rigorous — without sacrificing standards alignment.
• Building Relationships and Classroom Belonging: Develop routines and interactions that affirm identity, build trust, and promote authentic connections between students and teachers.

• Interactive and Engaging Content: Engaging Multimedia Learning: Learn the latest research through mini-lectures, memorable multimedia resources, and real classroom examples — no written assignments!
• Flexible Learning: Complete the course anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.
• Actionable Strategies: Every module is packed with ready-to-use tools, practical frameworks, and sample lesson ideas designed for immediate classroom impact.

This course bridges theory and practice to help you build a classroom where all learners — especially multilingual and culturally diverse students — can thrive. Whether you’re new to CLRT or looking to deepen your practice, you’ll gain the confidence, tools, and mindset to make every student feel seen, supported, and academically challenged.

By the end, you’ll have the strategies to cultivate a classroom rooted in respect, belonging, and equity — where students’ languages, cultures, and experiences drive meaningful learning.

Earn graduate-level professional development credit while transforming your classroom into a space where every learner’s voice matters. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your culturally responsive teaching practice.