Impact of a Cultural Self-Analysis Project: Increasing Early Childhood Preservice Teachers' Cultural Competency

This study explored the impact of a Cultural Self-Analysis (CSA) Project on early childhood undergraduate preservice teachers' cultural awareness and dispositions toward working with culturally diverse students and families. The project was based on the ABC's of Cultural Understanding and Communication, a model designed to facilitate the development of cultural competencies in preservice and inservice teachers. Participants reported that the CSA Project experience increased their cultural self-awareness, ability to identify and appreciate cultural differences, and ability to convey the importance of understanding different cultures to enhance home-school interactions and communication with students and families from diverse backgrounds.