ERIC Number: ED643219
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 146
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-8027-1194-1
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Using a Teacher Study Group to Explore Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in a High Cuban-Student-Population High School
Misael Gonzalez
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Florida
Over 27% or 13.6 million students self-identify as Latinx (Condition of Education 2019, n.d.). Nonetheless, teachers have struggled to use pedagogy that sustains the cultures of these historically underserved students. The use of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) has emerged as a powerful way to better serve this group of students. The purpose of this study was to use a Teacher Study Group (TSG) to explore CSP at a high-Cuban-student-population school. In this practitioner research study, I addressed the following research questions: What do teachers say about CSP and the impact of participating in a CSP-focused TSG? What did I learn about the benefits and challenges of using a CSP-focused TSG to support the use of CSP at a high Cuban-student-population high school? I conducted the study at a high school where 80% of students self-identify as being of Cuban heritage. The study was conducted as a CSP-focused TSG over eight weeks which I facilitated with three teachers, all of whom self-identified as being of Cuban heritage. My study revealed that teachers say three conditions need to be present for the discussion and use of CSP: reflection about their own cultures and connections to their students, a need to contextually define culture, and assurance of the confidentiality of discussions. Findings further show that teachers were excited about using CSP but feared alienating non-Cuban students by its use. Findings also show that participants benefited from their participation in the TSG. They also believed that this participation benefited their students, even as they faced challenges in their use of CSP. Lastly, the findings reveal that there are benefits and challenges of leading a TSG to support the use of CSP. Overall, the results of this study reveal that a TSG can be an effective way to talk about the use CSP, help teachers use CSP, and positively impact Latinx students through the use of CSP. Further, data reveals that teacher leaders can use TSGs as means to lead in this work without formal titles or leaving the classroom. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Sustainable Development, Cultural Maintenance, Teacher Attitudes, High School Teachers, Communities of Practice, Hispanic American Students, Cultural Awareness, Program Implementation, Professional Development
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A