International Journal of Multicultural Education

“Ready for Change”: Pre-service Teacher Perspectives on Diversity Preparation in Rural Appalachia

2023-07-26T12:45:30-07:00

Through the lens of transformative learning theory, this qualitative study examines how pre-service teachers (PSTs) in a teacher education program in rural Appalachia shared their perspectives on their preparation to work with diverse students. It examines how their lived experiences and their teacher education program impacted their approach to understanding and addressing diverse needs of their students. Results illustrate the unique way the pre-service teachers [re]imagined their program to better equip future PSTs for diverse classrooms. We argue for programmatic approaches to developing a teaching corps prepared for diversity in the classroom and challenging the shortsighted notion that students in rural Appalachia are unwilling to face the realities of diverse classrooms.

Weathering the Storm

2024-03-18T09:23:28-07:00

This paper focuses on the experiences of ten women in Canada with refugee backgrounds from the Horn of Africa as they helped their adolescent children (ages 12-18) navigate the challenges of at-home online learning during the global COVID-19 pandemic. We situate our analysis within specific aspects of Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth framework to demonstrate that, while the women’s efforts were hampered by online learning technologies, they were able to harness aspirational and familial capital to keep their children engaged in schoolwork. The women felt deeply involved in their children’s education, particularly in terms of following up on children’s homework, monitoring their activities, and providing guidance.

Experiences of Preservice Teachers of Color at a Predominantly White Institution

2024-01-29T09:02:31-08:00

This phenomenological study explores the experiences of preservice teachers of color in a teacher education program at a predominantly white institution. Participants experienced feelings of isolation, being targeted because of their race, lack of multicultural education in the program, and feelings of tension in wanting to speak out and fearing the consequences of speaking out. Recommendations are given for improving teacher education programs to better meet the needs of preservice teachers of color.

From Reading to Restoration

2023-10-09T10:38:25-07:00

This transformative autoethnography focuses on the authors’ learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a result of their participation in university diversity-related book clubs and subsequent extensive dialogue with one another. The paper features three implementation vignettes where the authors engage in critical self-reflection and self-critique as they (re)consider ways to improve their educational practice as it pertains to DEI. The paper ends with implications for educators to consider as they engage in critical self-reflection/self-critique around DEI in their work.