"Now I Look at All the Kids Differently": Cracking Teacher Candidates' Assumptions about School Achievement in Urban Communities. (2nd April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lazar, Althier; Sharma, Suniti
• Is Part Of: Action in teacher education. Volume 38:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 120
• Page End: 136
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02
• Subjects: Preservice teachers -- urban -- high poverty; Teachers -- Training of -- United States -- Periodicals; 370.7110973
• DOI: 10.1080/01626620.2016.1155099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0162-6620

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This mixed-methods study explores the impact of teacher preparation coursework on 141 teacher candidates' understandings about educational equality, school achievement, and meritocracy. Framed by pedagogies of discomfort, the program included readings, discussions, simulations, films, and direct work with emergent bilingual students. Findings from an analysis of surveys, interviews, and class discussions indicate that the program (1) complicated candidates' understandings of school achievement and meritocracy in urban, underserved communities and (2) prompted participants to see students and themselves differently. These findings inform new pathways for enhancing candidates' ability to critically understand school achievement within complex systems of systemic advantage and disadvantage.