Term
Summer 2024
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Julia Reimer
Content Expert
Kelsey Clodfelter
Abstract
This thesis has been designed around the question: How can AP literature teachers use culturally relevant pedagogy to make changes to their curriculum to increase diversity in their classes? Most schools offer advanced classes for students, many of which offer opportunities for them to gain college credit while in school. Yet, these opportunities are not equitably distributed. Students of color are often absent from Advanced Placement (AP) classes. This thesis explores the reasons behind this inequality and considers some changes that can be made to promote equality in schools. The focus of the accompanying project is to create a unit of study that incorporates these classroom changes into the lessons and overall approach to the learning. The project is a series of lessons that prepare students for the AP exam while also providing support and including culturally relevant pedagogy in a practical manner that will allow for any teacher to create a more equitable classroom. The project is designed to center the learning around student ideas and build critical thinking skills in students through carefully structured assignments and activities. A major influence in designing these lessons has been the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings, whose model of the social classroom became my basis for developing content that allows for students to take more control of their learning. The result of the studies and unit creation is a more nuanced understanding of why so few students of color are enrolled in AP classes and a unit plan that allows AP literature teachers to create a classroom that is more inclusive while still maintaining a high degree of rigor.
Project Type
Curriculum
Keywords
Achievement, Curriculum, Literacy
Recommended Citation
Volgren, Megan, "Increasing Diversity in Advanced Placement Classrooms Through Culturally Responsive Pedagogy" (2024). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1044.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1044
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects