Novice Teachers' Preparedness Towards Successfully Interacting with Culturally Diverse Student Populations

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Tremaine Ronnell Young (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Teacher effectiveness is the most influential factor to student achievement. Systems of public education in the United States have traditionally centered on White , middle class norms , as suggested by the founding arguments of Critical Race Theory. However , in the past decade , national population trends show an increase in minority populations , particularly in the southeastern United States. This trend has resulted in a cultural mismatch between teachers who are not trained in strategies that are responsive to the needs of a diverse student population. Novice teachers in a rural school district in eastern North Carolina participated in a study to examine the degree to which they were prepared to successfully interact with their culturally diverse student populations through the lens of culturally relevant classroom management (CRCM) , based on their training at either predominately White or Black postsecondary institutions. The study found that teachers trained at PWIs , although well-intentioned , enter the classroom far less prepared than their HBCU-trained counterparts due primarily to a lack of exposure to culturally diverse experiences both personally and within their teacher education programs. This inadequate preparation manifests itself through increased frustration and a disproportionate reporting of disciplinary incidents toward African American students. To address the training gap between PWI- and HBCU-trained teachers , the findings of this study suggests taking candidate dispositions toward diversity into account in the teacher selection process , providing ongoing , community-based diversity training , and professional coaching models to support the unique needs of novice teachers and their diverse student populations.

Additional Information

Publication

Dissertation

Language: English

Date: 2019

Keywords

Culturally Responsive Classroom Management

Subjects

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