Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers: Using Latino Children’s Literature in Teacher Education

Abstract

The disparity between the ethnic and cultural makeup of our teaching force and the ethnic and cultural makeup of the student population demands initiatives on the part of teacher preparation programs. Preservice teachers need to learn about the various cultures of their students in order to increase communication and understanding. As preservice teachers learn about and come to understand culturally diverse students, they move toward becoming culturally responsive teachers. Through the use of ethnic children’s literature and focused discussion in field experience seminars, preservice teachers increased their background knowledge about Latino children’s lives and began to make connections with the students themselves.

Reference

Escamilla, K., & Nathenson-Mejía, S. (2003). Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers: Using Latino Children's Literature in Teacher Education Special Issue: Partnering for Equity. Equity & Excellence in Education, 36(3), 238-248.

Journal

Equity & Excellence in Education

Analysis

Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?

unclear

Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?

Research Approach

none stated

Geographic Setting

Colorado

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

Bilingual Endorsement
Elementary

Programatic Focus

Bilingual
Literacy Education

Research Location Context

Literacy methods course

Preservice Participants

Graduate Students

Preservice Sample Size

Duration of Data Collection

3 semesters

Data Sources

anecdotal notes

Data Analysis Tools

coding (non-specific)

Researcher Positionality

inside (staying their own students)

Research Questions

"Three general research questions guided our study and informed the discussion of issues. Does reading Latino children’s literature help teacher candidates de- velop or expand their knowledge base about Mexicans and Mexican Americans and other Latino groups? Are teacher candidates able to relate Latino literature to their own life experiences? Are teacher candidates willing to utilize Latino children’s books when teaching?" (p.341).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes