"They See Me as the Rich, White Lady": Othering Perceptions in the Urban Literacy Classroom

• In Event: 72.048 - Roundtable Session 33
  In Roundtable Session: 72.048-5 - Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of Literacy Instruction

Abstract

This study examined the perspectives of pre-service teachers regarding teaching reading in an urban classroom setting. Throughout the literacy methods course, the students gained knowledge of and discussed issues associated with critical pedagogies, literacy, and culturally appropriate instructional strategies that have demonstrated success among African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students. Previous studies have examined White teachers in diverse classrooms, but few interrogate perceptions AND realizations of the experiences of teaching literacy in urban contexts. This study informs the field of teacher education, particularly in regards to equipping pre-service teachers to teach racially and ethnically diverse students within an urban context. Additionally, this study contributes new insights about pre-service teachers’ perspectives on teaching in an urban classroom.

Authors

• Elena M. Venegas, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

• Lakia M Scott, Baylor University