Defining Moments: Developing Culturally Responsive Dispositions and Teaching Practices in Early Childhood Preservice Teachers

This paper reports the results of a study that examined preservice teachers' perceptions of which program experiences contributed to shifts in their culturally responsive dispositions and teaching practices. At the time of the study, participants were engaged in a teacher preparation program designed to prepare teachers to work with culturally, linguistically, socio-economically, and ability diverse young children and their families. The findings suggest that five types of experiences, interacting with each other, were instrumental in effecting changes in dispositions and teaching practices. The experiences included material resources, diverse internship experiences, interactions with diverse families, critical reflection, and discussion and dialogue.