Creating a pathway to multicultural education in urban communities: Real-life experiences for preservice teachers
Abstract
The classrooms within our nation are becoming rich tapestries, interwoven with people of diverse cultures and ethnic groups.In response to the evolving tapestries, many educators advocate the need to heighten preservice teachers' sensitivity to cultural issues so that they might apply this cultural knowledge within their teaching and learning. Using a reconstructionist approach, where preservice teachers become caring citizens who reach out to help culturally diverse children, is one way to address these issues. This manuscript describes an alternative tutoring program, where meaningful teaching and learning emerges within an urban community, and its evaluation process. As a result of participating in this experience, preservice teachers learn to understand the social context within which literacy can occur. The evaluation process reveals, through the use of observations, questionnaires, interviews, and writing samples, the impact of this experience on preservice teachers' teaching and learning, as well as young children's reading and writing performance.
Reference
Moore-Hart, M. (2002). Creating a pathway to multicultural education in urban communities: Real-life experiences for preservice teachers. Reading Horizons, 42(3), 139-173.
Journal
Reading Horizons
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
- Participatory Action Research
- Qualitiative
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
- outside of school tutoring program
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (university based program)
- undergraduates in a Reading Methods course
Preservice Sample Size
20
Other Participant Data
- Students in tutorial setting
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Interviews
- interviews with kids (students)
- pre-service teachers' observations of kids
- Questionnaire
- student work
Data Analysis Tools
- Constant comparative analysis
- Inductive analysis
Researcher Positionality
- Inside (studying their own programs)
Research Questions
How did the preservice teachers feel about participating in this
tutoring program, located within a culturally diverse setting?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How did the preservice teachers feel that this experience within a
culturally diverse setting influenced their understanding of
multicultural education?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How did the culturally diverse tutees feel about participating in
this tutoring program?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How did the culturally diverse tutees feel their reading and
writing changed?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes