Attitudes towards African American Vernacular English in African American preschool teachers

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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I would like to thank _____________ for the support they had provided me throughout the research project.

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DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for the academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Introduction1

Theoretical Framework4

Association of Social Judgment Theory with research variables7

Factors That Have Shaped the Attitudes of AA Teachers8

Background of the Problem9

Problem Statement11

Purpose Statement12

Research Question and Hypotheses13

Research Question 113

Research Question 213

Research Question 314

Significance of the Study14

Definition of Terms15

Assumptions and Limitations16

Ethical considerations17

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW19

Introduction19

Theoretical Framework21

Social Judgment Theory21

From Pedagogy and Culture to Positive Student Outcomes24

Factors That Have Shaped the Attitudes of AAVE Teachers28

Understanding African American Vernacular English (AAVE)32

African American Culture and American Education35

African American Vernacular English in Education36

Attitudes toward AAVE39

Attitudes and Perceptions of the Teachers: The Implications42

Teachers' Beliefs and Expectations and Implications for Student Achievement50

Culturally Relevant Beliefs and Impact on Instruction53

Responsibility of Human Service Providers54

Conclusion57

REFERENCES59

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) incorporates many labels which include but not limited to Ebonics, Black English, and Black Vernacular and is therefore defined as the English that is mostly, but not wholly, associated with the speech of African Americans (AA). This particular form of English traces its roots back to the exclusion of African Americans from formal education, which lead to a formation of a unique dialect with its own particular features and characteristics. African American Vernacular English (AAVE) emerged as a tool for communication and cultural identity within an environment in which African Americans were denied access to education and were socially ostracized from mainstream society, which made it difficult to transition smoothly into Standard English (SE) as other immigrants (Lee, 2006). African American Vernacular English according to linguists is used by at least 80 - ...