Integrating and Separating: Supporting Educators’ Responses to Students’ Religious and Spiritual Influences on Learning

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Faith-Based Educational Contexts & Professional Formation

Abstract

Like other experiences or beliefs, religious and spiritual influences inform students’ learning. Typically, educators seek to engage students’ cultural knowledge in support of the whole child. Given the separation between "Church" and state, educators may be wary about their role in referencing students’ or families’ religious and spiritual experiences. Drawing from practitioner inquiry, this paper outlines ways to support pre-service and in-service teachers’ integrating and separating religious and spiritual influences within public educational contexts. It highlights implications for student engagement, development, and achievement from an equity framework. The paper outlines commonalities and differences in incorporating religion and spirituality from the perspectives of students, caregivers, educators, researchers, and policy makers to inform future research and applied work.

Author

• Mona M. Abo-Zena, University of Massachusetts - Boston