Urban fiction and multicultural literature as transformative tools for preparing English teachers for diverse classrooms
Abstract
Discussions of urban fiction and multicultural literature hold great potential for transforming the practice of beginning English teachers in diverse school settings. In this article, the authors, both teacher educators of color, present two case studies of preparing middle- and secondary-level English educators from a diversities perspective. Given continued conversations in the field of English education on how to best prepare new teachers for working effectively with diverse student populations, the authors present situated representations of how teachers’ critical encounters with literature can shape their learning to teach processes from the university classroom to their field experiences. Both case studies presented have a particular interest in the critical theoretical and pedagogical insights developed by preservice teachers through their discussions of children’s and adolescent literature that deals with diverse, urban, and multicultural perspectives. In doing so, these case studies reposition urban fiction and multicultural literature as transformative tools for teacher education curriculum
Reference
Haddix, M., & Price-Dennis, D. (2013). Urban fiction and multicultural literature as transformative tools for preparing English teachers for diverse classrooms. English Education, 45(3), 247.
Journal
English Education
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
- autoethnographic
- Multiple case study
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
- Critical Literacy (transforming practices)
- English
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (university based program)
Preservice Sample Size
21
Other Participant Data
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Analytical notes
- assignments
- Audio recordings
- Blog
- Interviews
- Syllabi from University courses
Data Analysis Tools
- Case study analysis
- Self-Study
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
- Inside (studying their own practices)
Research Questions
How can teacher educators prepare beginning English teachers to effectively teach an increasingly diverse student population through university coursework and field experiences?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
What happens when teacher educators draw on critical pedagogy and critical literacy when teaching about the use of urban fiction and multicultural literature in middle-level and secondary-level English classrooms?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes