ABSTRACT
Readers are introduced to ways culture and language form the lens from which teachers learn and teach. The concept of Funds of Knowledge (Moll, Amanti, Neff, & González, 1992) and Funds of Identities (Moll, 2014) are modified into a three-layered model we call the cultural self. The first layer is the “nature” part of the self, in which dispositions, physical characteristics, and genetics form the foundation of your cultural lens. The second layer includes language and cultural practices, and the third investigates social and cultural capital. Both outer layers form the “nurture” part of your lens. Readers are guided to reflect on all three layers, and investigate ways your cultural lens informs the way you teach. The chapter concludes with activities to investigate your cultural self in the context of the classroom.
