Planting the seeds ... Tending the Garden ... Cultivating the Student: Early Childhood Preservice Teachers as Literacy Researchers Exploring Beliefs about Struggling Readers and Diversity

This articles describes a qualitative research project investigating the effects of participation by preservice teachers in a literacy tutorial early intervention program that was based on a constructivist model utilizing self-reflection and inquiry. Seven recurring themes emerged from the data analysis providing little evidence of growth in culturally responsive teaching. The tutors, however, did learn valuable lessons about effective teaching of struggling readers in culturally diverse settings.