The Future of Education

How can teacher educators model culturally relevant teaching in their own practice? As demographics change in the United States, schools of education must continue to make curricular changes in order to be more responsive to K-12 contexts. Using the development of a new course as a catalyst, this research looks at how students and families can inform the work of teacher education. Based on transcripts from student and parent focus groups and supported by videotaped interviews conducted with students, we developed a number of themes that address how schools of education can better prepare their students to teach in diverse communities. Together, these themes help us to get a richer sense of what students of diverse backgrounds, and their families, want regarding their education. The requests of the students and families went on to inform the development of a required course for our Education students who are learning to be licensed teachers. Insights into our process and our syllabus outline will be provided. Through this presentation, audience members will learn more about how community feedback can inform the work of teacher education, as well as how to build a course that focuses on culturally relevant pedagogy.