First Advisor

Walker, Dana

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

12-2022

Embargo Date

12-2024

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand how dialogical peer coaching using an asset pedagogical framework supported the development of culturally sustaining pedagogy (Gay, 2000; Ladson-Billings, 1994; Paris & Alim, 2017). This action research study followed one teacher and eight emergent bilingual students during an intervention. The intervention consisted of asset projects developed from the funds of identity framework (Esteban-Guitart, 2016). The peer coaching process consisted of a period of observation followed by repeated co-planning, coteaching, and reflection. The researcher took a dialogical stance on creating asset projects with the students as well as peer coaching with the teacher using cycles of creative production and reflection to develop culturally sustaining pedagogy. All co-planning, co-teaching, reflective sessions, and interviews were audio-recorded. Recordings, artifacts, and classroom observations were analyzed for themes. The data showed asset projects elicited students’ funds of identity and prompted dialogic elements within the identity artifacts themselves, dialogue between students and teacher, and dialogue between the teacher and peer coach. This study demonstrated that dialogism is essential in adapting the funds of identity framework for theorizing and implementing asset pedagogy. Dialogism depended upon and also created more positive relationships, empathy, perspective-taking, and understanding of students’ assets. In addition, breakdowns in dialogism corresponded to a breakdown in asset pedagogy. Through the dialogical peer coaching process, the teacher shifted toward contextualizing instruction, a more communicative understanding of language (Walker, 2014), and the use of home languages to support learning. The teacher grew in empathy and understanding of her students’ backgrounds and experiences. The students experienced a closer relationship with the teacher and other students in the class as well as greater self-expression and continuity of self (Zittoun & Grossen, 2013). The researcher recommended further study of trauma-informed asset pedagogy as well as integrating critical pedagogy and WIDA standards into asset pedagogy.

Extent

366 pages

Local Identifiers

VanBeek_unco_0161D_11095.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

Available for download on Sunday, December 01, 2024

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