Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

He's too young to learn about that stuff: An examination of critical, anti-racist pedagogy in an early childhood classroom

Husband, Terry

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Educational Theory and Practice.

Critical multicultural theorists (i.e., Banks, 1994; Derman-Sparks, 1993) call for early childhood teachers to utilize critical and anti-racist approaches in their classrooms as a means of identifying, resisting, and ultimately eliminating racist structures within schools. Giving pensive consideration to this call, the purpose of this critical action research study is to examine my teaching experiences while teaching critically about African American history through the use of critical, anti-racist pedagogy. The overarching research question that drives this research is: How does teaching critically about African American history influence the perspectives and understandings in my 1st grade classroom?

This study is informed by both qualitative and teacher research paradigms and employs a critical action research methodology. More specifically, as the teacher-researcher in this study, I developed and implemented a 9-lesson unit on African American history in my classroom based in critical, anti-racist perspectives. Data was collected through self-observations, field notes, teacher researcher journal entries, and student documents. Data analyses yield two important broad findings. First, dialogue operated and was used in various ways to contribute to what I call critical racial consciousness in and among the students in my classroom. Second, multiple tensions as I engaged with the curriculum, students, and parents throughout the duration of the study. Further, implications for early childhood practice and teacher education are discussed, along with recommendations for future research in this area.

Cynthia Dillard, PhD (Committee Chair)
Barbara Seidl, PhD (Committee Member)
Rebecca Kantor-Martin, PhD (Committee Member)
239 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Husband, T. (2008). He's too young to learn about that stuff: An examination of critical, anti-racist pedagogy in an early childhood classroom [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1211327601

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Husband, Terry. He's too young to learn about that stuff: An examination of critical, anti-racist pedagogy in an early childhood classroom. 2008. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1211327601.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Husband, Terry. "He's too young to learn about that stuff: An examination of critical, anti-racist pedagogy in an early childhood classroom." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1211327601

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)