What Analysis Reveals About Teacher Educators' Understanding of Culturally Responsive Instruction and Translation Into Practice

• In Event: Toward a More Just Tomorrow? Culturally Sustaining Approaches to Preservice Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study that examines teacher educators' design and implementation of culturally responsive pedagogy in an elementary education/SPED program. The undergraduate program has undergone extensive restructuring efforts to ensure candidates are provided opportunities to develop and demonstrate cultural and linguistic knowledge and skills. However, no assessment has occurred to examine how equipped faculty are in modeling and teaching culturally responsive practices. Accordingly, this critical participatory action research study examined the quality of undergraduate coursework and the extent to which faculty teach culturally responsive practices to teacher candidates. Findings highlight a mismatch between the primarily white university education instructors and the culturally responsive content and pedagogy they intend to teach.

Authors

• Dana Reisboard, Widener University

• Katia Ciampa, Widener University

• Nadine McHenry, Widener University