A framework for supporting Preservice Teachers (PSTs) in culturally sustaining nonfiction writing

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is to share specific methods employed to support preservice teachers as they engage in culturally sustaining nonfiction writing instruction with elementary children in an embedded methods course. First, we explore theories of culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies. Next, we define culturally sustaining writing practices with young children. Finally, we share a framework for engaging in culturally sustaining nonfiction writing. We do this by describing our work of having PSTs (aka tall teachers) engaging in a culturally sustaining authoring cycle where they examine historical and contemporary movements beside their fifth-grade literacy pals (aka small teachers) to create critical nonfiction writing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional Resources

1. Baines, J., Tisdale, C., & Long, S. (2018). “We’ve been doing it your way long enough”: Choosing the culturally relevant classroom. Teachers College Press.

This book supports elementary school teachers in understanding the role in dismantling Eurocentric narratives and curriculum in literacy education. The authors provide readers with an abundance of critically conscious classroom practices and strategies grounded in African cultural practices.

2. Boutte, G. S. (2015). Educating African American students: And how are the children?. Routledge.

This is a teacher friendly text which offers practical strategies to teaching African American students. This book uses both and equity- and asset-based approach to understanding Black culture.

3. Love, B. L. (2019). We want to do more than survive: Abolitionist teaching and the pursuit of educational freedom. Beacon Press.

Bettina Love argues that the educational system oppresses and profits from the suffering of children of color. In this book, she shares that in order to shift the educational system– we must do it with a sense of urgency and boldness.