CRSE Scoring Project

Assignment 4: CRSE Scoring Project (10 pts.)

In groups, you will complete a comprehensive analysis of how culturally responsive your curriculum is. The ELA scorecard was designed specifically with K through eighth grade English Language Arts curricula in mind, but you may adapt and use it with other grades and subjects as well. A STEAM version is also now available (the instructions below are based on the ELA version).

Specifically, follow these steps:

1. Select a curriculum for evaluation (preferably from one that your school uses).
2. Choose the grades, units, and lessons to analyze. Curricula can be thousands of pages, so you will need to select one or a few grades, units, and lessons to focus on (a sample of the larger curricula). The units you choose should not focus specifically on diversity and multiculturalism; they should be typical units.
3. Pull out keywords that represent each statement from the ELA Scorecard. Once you have your curriculum and the scorecard in hand, review the statements for the scorecard you will begin with (Representation, Social Justice or Teachers Materials).
4. Conduct the evaluation. The scorecard asks for your level of satisfaction with the curriculum on various measures. There is no right answer; this is just your opinion as someone who cares about culturally responsive education. As you answer each statement, use the Scoring Guidelines to help you decide your ratings.
5. Score the evaluation. Tally your score for each section of the scorecard. A curriculum may excel in one area and fall short in another, and it is important to record those differences. You should come out with one score for each of the following sections:
+ Character Tally
+ Author Tally
+ Representation
+ Social Justice
+ Teachers Materials
6. Reflect. Did anything new come up? What was easy and what was hard? Did some items seem more important than others? Based on the scorecard results, which voices and perspectives are underrepresented in the curriculum? Which are over-represented? Based on the scorecard results, what messages or perspectives are communicated in the curriculum that you would like to change?

This is also an opportunity to strategize about next steps: Do you think this evaluation provides an accurate picture of the curriculum? Does additional information need to be collected? Is there anyone you want to meet with to discuss the results?

What needs to happen in order for our school community to effectively use culturally responsive curriculum? Consider the following questions:
a. What do schools/educators need to learn more about in order to move toward more culturally responsive curriculum instruction?
b. What skills do we as a school/educators need to work on developing in order to move toward more culturally responsive curriculum and instruction?
c. How are the relationships between students, families & communities and schools/educators in our school community?
d. How is our school community going to be accountable to this work without inflicting harm on students?

What experience has your school had with Culturally Responsive Education, multicultural education, anti-bias training, or equity-based trainings?
e. Who had that exposure (all teachers, certain grades, what years?)
f. Is there a foundation that you are building upon?

You may wish to review this toolkit as well.

7. Share the Findings (Parts 5 and 6):
a. Up to 10 minute live presentation*