An exploratory study of culturally relevant teaching practices: number and types utilized by mentor teachers during students’ practicum experience

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Demi G. Siskind (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Karen La Paro

Abstract: This exploratory study was conducted to investigate mentor teachers’ utilization of culturally relevant teaching practices from the perspective of early childhood teacher candidates. More specifically, the current study aimed to identify the number and types of culturally relevant teaching practices utilized by mentor teachers (as reported by teacher candidates), and determine how these practices vary by personal characteristics and placement setting location, and contribute to teacher candidates’ teaching efficacy. Fifty undergraduate teacher candidates from two U.S. universities enrolled in early childhood practicum courses participated by completing an online survey during the middle of a fall semester. An ANCOVA determined that the number of culturally relevant teaching practices utilized by mentor teachers did not vary by teacher candidates’ race or age, mentor teachers’ race, or placement setting location. A MANCOVA and between-subjects follow ups revealed that two out of 19 types of culturally relevant teaching practices utilized by mentor teachers varied by the interaction of teacher candidates’ race and placement setting location. A bivariate correlation between the number of culturally relevant teaching practices utilized by mentor teachers and teacher candidates’ culturally relevant teaching efficacy was found insignificant. These findings provide insight on the practices that are being developed in teacher candidates, and enhances current knowledge on how teacher preparation programs and faculty are supporting teacher candidates’ culturally relevant teaching practices.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2018
Keywords
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Cultural Responsiveness, Early Care and Education, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Preparation, Teaching Practices
Subjects
Early childhood teachers $x Training of
Culturally relevant pedagogy
Mentoring in education
Master teachers

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