This qualitative study explores short-term international student teaching (IST) as an avenue to develop two capacities related to cultural responsiveness among a group of U.S. preservice teachers (PSTs) in Mexico. Cultural noticing involves perceiving details about cultural context. Cultural responding involves using what is noticed to adapt teaching practice. Findings suggest three ideas. First, IST programs may promote development of cultural noticing capacity. Second, teacher education programs must promote development of cultural noticing capacity, as without it, further efforts to develop culturally responsive teaching practice may be futile. Third, Whiteness may obstruct PST engagement in culturally responsive teaching practice.
Special education researchers have a huge responsibility and opportunity to develop research designs that help practitioners in schools—particularly school teachers, leaders, counselors, social workers, and interventionalists—develop research-based policies and practices that address and meet the increasingly complex needs of young people. In this article, we synthesize insights from the articles published in the issue with careful attention placed on understanding implications to bolster and cultivate special education research, theory, policy and practice that may advance justice and equity.
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