Uncovering and Informing Preservice Teachers’ Prior Knowledge About Poverty

Authors

Charlotte Anne Mundy, University of AlabamaFollow
Melinda Marie Leko

Abstract

This study explored 30 preservice teachers’ knowledge on issues related to poverty. In an openended questionnaire, preservice teachers’ perceptions of poverty and how teachers should respond to students from poverty were explored. Results indicated that preservice teachers’ knowledge was nonspecific and lacked focus on the relationship among poverty, schools, and students. These results indicate a need for us as teacher educators to provide preservice teachers with (a) specific details about realities of poverty, (b) opportunities to discuss and observe the relationship among poverty, teachers, and schools, and (c) examples of children and families from poverty who have positive attributes.

Author Biography

Mundy- Assistant Professor of Elementary Literacy Education Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Leko- Assistant Professor in Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education

Recommended Citation

Mundy, Charlotte Anne and Leko, Melinda Marie (2015) "Uncovering and Informing Preservice Teachers’ Prior Knowledge About Poverty," Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research: Vol. 17: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2470-6353.1035