Exploring White Preservice Mathematics Teachers' Racial Identity and Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine what factors affect the construction of preservice white mathematics teachers’ racial identities and the relationship between their racial identities and Culturally Relevant Teaching (CRT) practices. We examined five white female preservice teachers who enrolled in an elementary mathematics methods course at a private university in the US. We collected data consisting of lesson plans, semi-structured interviews, and reflection of a taught lesson in the 2018 fall term and examined them using qualitative research methods. We found that preservice teachers’ racial identities were affected by their backgrounds, K-12 school experiences, and practicum school environment. We also found a relationship between teachers’ sensitivity to racial issues and their endorsement of CRT strategies. The findings also revealed that the relationships were mediated by practicum school contexts. Based on the findings, we provided practical implications for the teacher education programs.