Culture's Role in Teacher Identity: Prompting Teachers to Explore Their Cultural Background

Abstract

This article discusses the merit of writing a cultural biography to prompt pre-service and practicing teachers to reflect upon the role culture plays in identity development, and as a catalyst for growth in self-understanding and appreciation of the role culture plays in their students' lives. An analysis of 110 pre-service teachers' cultural biographies revealed that one-third knew little or nothing about their cultural heritage prior to completing the assignment and only half viewed their cultural heritage as having a significant role in shaping their identity. It is recommended that pre-service and practicing teachers engage in self-examination and reflection paired with readings and discussions' emphasizing the important role culture plays in identity formation.