"I Need to Learn to Check My Biases": Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of Culturally Responsive Teaching

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Thinking Critically About Teacher Education: Personal, Local, and Global Perspectives on Practices

Abstract

Teacher educators must prepare preservice teachers (PSTs) to become equitable practitioners who honor the voices and experiences of their future students. In this proposal, we advocate for centering equitable teaching in literacy education courses. This qualitative study investigated PSTs’ perceptions about teaching using a culturally responsive lens throughout a course that focused on literacy in a diverse world. Analysis revealed that throughout the semester PSTs came to recognize the importance of their personal experiences in culturally responsive instruction, the importance of students’ experiences, and the possibilities for equitable instruction in their future teaching. This study revealed the urgency of teaching PSTs affirming and inclusive practices, while also revealing that we have more work to do in teacher preparation programs.

Authors

• Christy Howard, East Carolina University

• Anne Swenson Ticknor, East Carolina University

• Mikkaka Overstreet, The Hunt Institute