Supporting the Development of Asset Orientations Through Participation in Freirian Culture Circles

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:20 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers' Critical Development and Learning (Table 10)

Abstract

Our study explores the ways in which participation in weekly Freirian culture circles mediated the development of asset orientations for five novice teachers working in schools serving predominantly minoritized students. Our research team (consisting of a teacher educator and participants in the culture circles) utilized critical research methodology and collaboratively collected and analyzed ethnographic qualitative data from the culture circles, as well as from participants’ K-12 teaching and reflection in the field. We found that participation in critical spaces of collaborative reflection, such as Freirian culture circles, can offer novice teachers a host of supports – from modeling and affirmation of asset-based language, to critical questioning and suggestions for culturally relevant pedagogies – to strengthen the dispositions undergirding an asset orientation.

Authors

• Lisa Teresa Archuleta, Stanford University

• John L. Beltramo, Santa Clara University

• Hectór Martinez, Santa Clara University