Exploring the Relevancy of the Funds of Identity Approach for Pre-Education Majors

Abstract

This chapter explores the development of pre-education majors' awareness of an appreciation for their cultural and linguistic funds of knowledge/identity. The chapter begins with an overview of the funds of knowledge approach by briefly examining the history of the approach and the fundamental principles governing the approach. The chapter then reviews the concept of funds of identity, a more recent extension of funds of knowledge, and provides a summary of previous studies which have investigated the funds of identity approach in teacher education. Next, the chapter considers the logistics of a unit on funds of knowledge/identity in a first-year seminar course for pre-education majors along with a synopsis of participants' funds of identity. The chapter concludes with a report on the limitations of the study along with implications of the research for teacher educators.