What is one characteristic of culturally responsive teaching?

Culturally responsive teaching is centered on the idea that students' cultural backgrounds significantly influence their learning experiences. By valuing and incorporating students' backgrounds into lesson planning, educators can create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment. This approach recognizes that diverse perspectives enrich the classroom and that understanding students’ cultural contexts can enhance their academic success.

When educators incorporate students' backgrounds, they can tailor lessons that reflect their interests and experiences, making learning more relatable and meaningful. This method fosters a sense of belonging among students and can motivate them to participate actively in their education, leading to improved outcomes.

In contrast, uniform teaching fails to consider the diverse needs of students; ignoring cultural differences neglects the richness that diversity brings to the classroom, and focusing solely on traditional methods limits the range of teaching strategies that might be more effective for a varied student body. Thus, option C directly aligns with the principles of culturally responsive teaching, which seek to enhance learning for all students by acknowledging and integrating their unique cultural identities.