Routledge Early Childhood Teacher Education on Cultural Competence

Product Description Early Childhood Teacher Education on Cultural Competence discusses how early childhood preservice teachers can use teacher research to explore and gain cultural competence, enabling them to support students and families from diverse backgrounds. The book opens by describing the role of the university in preparing culturally competent teachers in urban settings and then explores historical perspectives of cultural competence. Chapters then move toward more practical perspectives of supporting families from racially diverse backgrounds, understanding diverse families, interprofessional education and collaboration, teacher resiliency, and social justice. Although the chapters focus on cultural competence in urban settings, they offer all early childhood teacher educators a challenge to address cultural competence in all settings. Review "This book makes clear the imperative for us, as early childhood teacher educators, to critically examine our own methods of teacher preparation. We must become better at preparing preservice teachers to become culturally competent educators of young children. The chapters in this book help us understand the rationale behind this vital work and offer valuable strategies for moving forward." ―Angela C. Baum, President, National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, USA "This text would make a great book study for teacher education programs that wish to strengthen their preservice teachers’ cultural competence. In addition to being informative, this text challenges, encourages, and causes the reader to reflect upon their teacher education practices related to cultural competence. Though the book is focused on preparing preservice teachers to work in urban schools, the authors also explain how preservice teachers can be culturally competent in any setting. The passion of the chapter authors is apparent as they share their experiences with guiding preservice teachers in their development of cultural competence." ―Linda Taylor, Assistant Professor, Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies, Ball State University, USA About the Author The National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Education Foundation raises funds for the benefit of early childhood teacher educators and the children and communities they serve. Established in 1998, the Foundation focuses on supporting early childhood teacher educators as they engage in advocacy, research, and practice. The National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators is directly affiliated with NAECTEF. It promotes the professional growth of its membership by providing opportunities to publish in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, attend and present at annual conferences, write resolutions and position papers related to issues in early childhood teacher education, and disseminate research. It also advocates for improvements in early childhood teacher education, provides scholarships for students of this field, and supports related research projects.