Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Rio Piedras (UPR-RP)
ER #126 Contact: Dr. Nannette Portalatín
Teaching with Culturally Specific Primary Sources in Puerto Rico and Florida to Build Social Capital among Preservice Teachers This project involves a partnership between the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras (UPR-RP) and the University of South Florida (USF). Through an inter-university collaboration, participants explore the use of primary sources to challenge mainstream assumptions and views of Puerto Rico and to support application of the content and pedagogic approaches into early childhood and elementary classrooms. Preservice teachers build skills in identifying primary sources that are developmentally appropriate for young learners, that the support development of critical literacy strategies and that serve as vehicles to explore cultural and historical concepts associated with Puerto Rico. Throughout the project UPR-RP and USF serve as cultural consultants to promote intercultural understanding and ensure that the professional development in both contexts includes diverse knowledge bases, experiences and perspectives.