Pre-service teachers explore cultural identity and ideology through picture books
Abstract
This paper draws on early data from a cross-Canada research project in which researchers at six Faculties of Education have been engaged in introducing picture books with multiple and diverse representations of Canadians to classes of pre-service teachers, inviting them to explore the pedagogical possibilities of the picture books and to discuss their cultural identities in focus groups and interviews. The paper reports the participants' expressed understandings of multiculturalism and their own relations and experiences with it, as well as their thoughts on classroom implementation of curriculum that incorporates picture books with multicultural and diversity themes. The paper also includes a case study of one Canadian province to further explore the wider context of pre-service teachers' understandings and ideologies by examining discourses in policy and practices in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Reference
Hammett, R., & Bainbridge, J. (2009). Pre-service teachers explore cultural identity and ideology through picture books. Literacy 43 (3), 152–59. doi:10.1111/j.1741-4369.2009.00522.x.
Journal
Literacy
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
yes
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
- Action Research
- Case study
- Multiple case study
- Qualitiative
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
Preservice Sample Size
66
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Focus group interviews
- Interviews
- lesson plans
- open ended questions
- Questionnaire
Data Analysis Tools
Researcher Positionality
- A combination of their own students and students from other programs
- Inside (studying their own programs)
Research Questions
How do pre-service teachers respond to Canadian multicultural picture books and how do they develop criteria for literary text selection and pedagogical strategies for diverse school populations?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes