Integrating Teachers’ Cultures and Children’s Inquiry to Develop a Culturally Appropriate Curriculum

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Teacher Research as an Approach to Contribute to the Knowledge Base

Abstract

Recent studies emphasize the importance of fostering cultural belonging in the curriculum to nurture children’s identity development. However, few curricula meaningfully incorporate teachers’ cultural backgrounds into classroom practices. This study examines how a teacher’s efforts and culture, through inquiry-based learning, can enrich classroom practices. The purpose of this teacher-research is to (1) develop a culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate inquiry-based curriculum that integrates the teacher’s culture to foster children’s understanding of diversity, and (2) understand how this inclusive curriculum prompts children’s active engagement in developing concepts of cultural diversity. Findings show that children were engaged with the teacher’s culture and willing to share their own family cultures, strengthening positive cultural identities in a culturally homogeneous classroom.

Authors

• Hyejin Do, San Francisco State University

• Mina Kim, San Francisco State University