ERIC Number: EJ948701
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1068-1752
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Use of Racial Identity Development Theory to Explore Cultural Competence among Early Childhood Educators
Han, Heejeong Sophia; West-Olatunji, Cirecie; Thomas, M. Shelley
SRATE Journal, v20 n1 p1-11 Win 2010-2011
In order to explore early childhood educators' cultural competence through a lens of racial identity development theory, a case study was conducted with four White Kindergarten teachers. Participants were surveyed and interviewed to understand their racial identity development as well as perspectives of teaching culturally diverse early childhood students. Findings suggest that representative characteristics of racial identities are evident among White early childhood educators, and that these characteristics influence their conceptualizations of teaching and understanding culturally diverse young students. Thus, authors recommend that racial identity development be considered as a crucial element of teacher professional developments in order to enhance their cultural competence. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Racial Identification, Young Children, Kindergarten, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Educators, Professional Development, Case Studies, Preschool Teachers, Cultural Differences, Cultural Background, Whites, Surveys, Interviews
Southeastern Regional Association of Teacher Educators. Web site: http://www.sratejournal.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
