Critical Multicultural Analysis of Award-winning Texts Representing Latina/o/e Experiences

ABSTRACT: The Pura Belpré Award honors Latina/o/e writers and illustrators whose works are acknowledged as best portraying, affirming, and celebrating Latina/o/e cultural experiences for children and youth. Using a critical content analysis of 14 chapter books that received the award, we share findings that reveal the texts consistently portrayed Latina/o/e central characters through asset-based frameworks. The critical content analysis indicated that the central characters demonstrated the asset-based strengths of interdependence and resourcefulness. Interdependence was demonstrated with families and communities, and remarkable resourcefulness was evidenced by pooling physical, internal, and social resources to creatively solve challenges. Implications for practice, especially in relation to supporting culturally sustaining pedagogy in classrooms, are discussed

But What Does it Look Like in Maths? A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in Mathematics

In response to urgent calls for teaching that is culturally affirming, scholars have developed a myriad of images of culturally sustaining (and related) pedagogies (CSPs). However, for maths teachers, CSPs remain elusive, in part because these images are typically content-neutral and their applicability to practice opaque. In this paper, I synthesize research to help conceptualize and clarify what CSPs may look like specifically in mathematics classrooms. I offer a framework for CSPs in mathematics comprised of four dimensions: (1) anti-assimilationism, (2) strengths-based teaching, (3) power and justice, and (4) affirming identities

Korean Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions and Teaching Practices of Multicultural Education: A Qualitative Case Study

Korean society has rapidly experienced increasing multiculturalism for over two decades. This qualitative case study explores Korean teachers’ conceptualizations and implementation of multicultural education with/for multicultural students in middle schools in Seoul, Korea. Interviews were conducted with six Korean middle school teachers experienced in teaching multicultural students. The findings reveal diverse perspectives and practices of multicultural education with the teachers demonstrating increased pedagogical flexibility and reflexivity in their teaching practices. This contributes to a more inclusive learning environment that embraces diversity and fosters inclusion

Pairing Mindfulness and Social Justice: Taking a Step on the Path to Change

This case study explores how teacher candidates responded to the inclusion of mindfulness practices in a course and how they understand mindfulness’ relationship to equity. Findings show that participants responded positively and connected presence activities to social justice in several ways: fostering mental health, addressing systemic inequities, facilitating classroom management, making connections to curriculum, and empowering students. The study demonstrates that pairing mindfulness and equity goals has important potential; however, this is only one step of many needed to recruit and retain a thriving teaching force that can work for equity in schools

Exploring Pedagogical Practices to Cultivate Wisdom, Courage, and Compassion as Key Tenets of Global Citizenship: A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this study was to explore college students’ and educators’ (N = 29) perceptions, experiences, and recommendations around cultivating wisdom, compassion, and courage as key tenets of global citizenship. Based on pragmatic research design and thematic analysis, we sought multicultural education approaches that could strengthen campus communities’ capacity to advance peace, sustainability, dignity, and wellbeing of all forms of life – all across the world. We have discussed the findings in the context of specific pedagogical practices focusing upon: (a) emergent praxes and curriculum to foster wisdom, (b) courageous dialogues for mutual understanding, and (c) restoring compassion and humanity

Experiences of Family Collaboration in Early Intervention among Korean and Chinese Caregivers

Despite the importance of family-centered practice in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C, a federally funded program for birth to two-year-old children with disabilities, there is a lack of research on Asian families who participate in early intervention in the U.S. This study examined the experiences of two Korean families and one Chinese family in early intervention in the U.S. Interviews were conducted and analyzed by bilingual researchers using ecological systems theory. As a multiple-case design study, the caregiver roles, beliefs, practices, and experiences related to their participation in early intervention were reported through within-case and cross-case analysis

Analysis of School Educational Spaces: A Challenge for Spatial Relevance in Contexts of Sociocultural Diversity

This research addresses the problem of the imposition of educational spaces in multicultural contexts. The research is of qualitative nature, based on an interpretative hermeneutic paradigm. It uses collective case study design. The selection of participants was non-probabilistic and intentional, and snowball sampling was used, selecting 15 teachers and 24 students. It is concluded that Chilean schools in multicultural contexts show a lack of social and cultural relevance in the construction and organization of spaces. In addition, it is concluded that educational establishments should consider the implementation of pedagogical and didactic strategies in contact with nature, given that, as has already been demonstrated, children often prefer outdoor experiences as ideal spaces for learning

Negotiating Racial Identities Through Korean Language Learning: Learners of Korean as a Foreign Language in a US University

This qualitative study examines the experiences of twelve non-heritage learners of Korean in a Korean as a Foreign Language (KFL) setting at a US university. The findings show (a) how learners understand the construct of race inside and outside of Korean language learning spaces; (b) how learners’ real and imagined communities influence their identities and language learning; and (c) how learning Korean influences learners’ racial identities and how these racial identities play a role in Korean language learning. This study attempts to address and start a dialogue regarding race and racial identities in the Korean language classrooms

Selecting and Teaching Young Adult Literature Through Black Historical Consciousness Principles

In this practitioner article, we detail how American English language arts and social studies teachers can select and teach young adult literature using LaGarrett King’s Black historical consciousness framework. We provide supplemental, related research along with teaching suggestions and titles for each of the Black historical consciousness principles. We end by calling on educators to reimagine both English language arts and social studies curriculum to challenge curricular anti-Blackness and center Black authors, writings, and philosophies.

‘Having a Tongue and Mouth But Not Able to Speak’: Francophone Immigrant Parents’ Experiences of Child Language Brokering in South Africa

This paper is an analysis of Francophone immigrant parents’ experiences of child language brokering in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Using a qualitative research design, data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews from nine immigrant parents who were selected through a convenience and snowball sampling technique. Through the lens of sociocultural theory and acculturation, the key findings indicate that the Francophone immigrant parents displayed positive feelings and had optimistic expectations concerning their children’s language brokering skills in English and their future prospects in South Africa. The paper concludes that Francophone immigrant parents’ experiences of child language brokering are complex and dynamic and are influenced by the context and purpose of communication