Critical literacy is an important feature in the teaching of literacy to culturally, linguistically diverse students and also to children with disabilities in the school context. This essay will address the intersecting roles of critical literacy in relation to the three chapters about diversity in the textbook ‘Literacies in Childhood’. The three chapters include ‘Chapter 14: Other words, other worlds: bilingual identities and literacy’, ‘Chapter 16: Indigenous literacies: moving from social construction towards social justice’ and ‘Chapter 17: Literacy for all? Young children and special literacy learning needs’. The topics of linguistically, culturally diverse students and children with disabilities are all discussed and justified in relation …show more content…
By incorporating critical literacy into the teaching of literacy, children are able to explore and understand inequalities between different cultures or races displayed in a text. An example would be in a newspaper article which could display how the dominant worldviews are accepted while the minority views of the indigenous are often dismissed as discussed in chapter 6. If this neglect of the indigenous culture and opinions was to continue and the teaching focus was based on western perspectives in school settings, many children would not be able find connections between their home experiences and their education. To prevent this, teachers could use resources in the indigenous community and environment to scaffold the children’s critical literacy activities. With many indigenous children having limited access to technologies and cars, the children are not exposed to the related literacy practices many other children see every day. Teachers must integrate critical literacy opportunities that the children can relate too, which will give them the chance to read, analyse, critique and question texts that the children are familiar …show more content…
However the presence of a disabilities does not suggest a lower literacy achievement as mentioned in chapter 17. Critical literacy involves examining and analysing the ways authors and illustrators present worldviews, this is why incorporating texts of popular culture is beneficial for teaching literacy, as children are able to question these worldviews in any form of text. With texts of popular culture frequently reflecting sexism, violence and racism, it can help children develop an understanding of the correct and incorrect ways of modern life while also learning literacy. However when selecting texts, teachers should make sure it is appropriate to the age group but also doesn’t offend any children or families. As some children with disabilities are not immersed in literacy outside of school as the parents are focused on the medical side rather than literacy, teachers must help families find ways to support learning literacy through everyday literacy tasks. By encouraging children with disabilities to read, listen, watch or talk about forms of texts, provides the opportunities to participate in social activities through critical
Cowhey’s book is broken down by the major themes and concepts she teaches her first and second grade students. Each concept relates back to her personal pedagogy of implementing a Multicultural Education. These major themes include empathy, freedom, peace, activism, community, and social justice. Cowhey’s pedagogy uses “language and literacy to teach about the world with rigor, depth, and challenge in a way that engages and
Our abilities are often what we use to define our worth. Whether we fail or succeed our future lifestyle is open to our discretion; however, we fail to realize outside influences have the ability to cripple us. One way in which this is true is through the education system. If we fail to meet the average or typical standards of others we often mark ourselves as useless. Children, and adults, facing adversity in literacy see this as a daily struggle no matter what their individual disability is. In “Dyslexia” by Eileen Simpson, and “The Library Card”, by Richard Wright, details are what define their disabilities to their audiences. Through the descriptions presented in “Dyslexia”, we have the ability to place ourselves into Simpson’s point of view; meanwhile, in “The Library Card” it is easy to draw a connection between this story and the struggle of those in slave narratives such as the one written by Frederick Douglass.
Knoblauch argues that there are many definitions of literacy that impact people’s lives. Although he argues there are many definitions, he focused on four types of literacy that are most common in society. Knoblauch labels them as functional, cultural, personal-growth/liberal, and critical literacy. He defines functional literacy as a level of literacy that is “readying people for the necessities of daily life—writing checks, reading sets of instructions”(1990, p. 3) and other basic reading and writing skills. However, he also warns that there are hidden agendas in these types of defined literacies. Ill prepared teachers who do not connect to and challenge their students result in no critical literacy and very little
Rosin, Hanna. “Mother Inferior?” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. By Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. 12th ed. Pearson, 2012. 265-268. Print.
Literacy is used for many purposes across a range of socio-cultural contexts bringing meaning to texts, words and images (ACARA, 2011; Fellowes & Oakley, 2010). Socio-cultural theorist Vygotsky highlights the role of socio-cultural contexts and interactions in children’s learning, stating that children learn literacy through every day social interactions in which they take part such as, viewing and critiquing television programs, playing video games, playing sport and going shopping (Arthur, 2001; Christie, Enz, Vukelich & Roskos, 2013; Hill, 2012). Through these interactions children are developing a wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding from the surrounding popular culture that embraces their interests, while also promoting engagement in areas of literacy such as reading, talking, writing and responding to texts. (Beavis, 2012; Hall, 2011; Lotherington, 2003; Walsh, 2010).
As a child, I have always been fond of reading books. My mother would read to me every single night before I went to bed and sometimes throughout the day. It was the most exciting time of the day when she would open the cabinet, with what seemed to be hundreds of feet tall, of endless books to choose from. When she read to me, I wanted nothing more than to read just like her. Together, we worked on reading every chance we had. Eventually I got better at reading alone and could not put a book down. Instead of playing outside with my brothers during the Summer, I would stay inside in complete silence and just read. I remember going to the library with my mom on Saturdays, and staying the entire day. I looked forward to it each and every week.
Throughout my childhood, the idea of having a college education was greatly stressed. As a result, it was my duty as the next generational child, to excel in my studies and achieve a life of prosperity and success. Learning became the basic foundation of my growth. Therefore, my youth was overtaken by many hours spent reading and writing what was known to be correct "Standard" English. I first found this to be a great shortcoming, but as I grew older, I began to realize the many rewards acquired by having the ability to be literate.
Throughout this semester I have learned many ways of writing through two main essays literacy narrative and comparison and contrast. These two essays have taught me how to correctly fix my comma splices, thesis statements, and capitalization. I have engaged in numerous learning material during this summer class. Many times when I thought it would be hard to work on those three developments I never gave up. I gain more positive feedback from my teacher because he pointed out most of my mistakes I made on both literacy narrative and comparison and contrast essays to help me understand what is it that I need to work on. My development as a writer became stronger.
By incorporating the Critical Literacies Pedagogy into Health and Physical Education, primary school students in the South Australia will be offered with chances and information that other students may not have entry to. Generally, the Critical Literacies Pedagogy encourages discourse inside the classroom and community about the health and welfare of students and simultaneously decreases inequality.
Literacy has a strong impact on ones life’s in many reasons such as it can open doors for an individual to become successful in the world. Literacy is never easy to develop but once it is developed it is something that can never be forgotten. Achieving the quality of literacy can determine your efficiency in life. An individual environment throughout early childhood has an impact on the quality of literacy they develop.
Literacy embraces reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Integrating all of these into a literacy program is key. Teachers must provide endless and ongoing opportunities for their student to read, write, listen, and speak.
Delpit's article is in support of the multicultural education theory. She invites the reader to travel with her "to other worlds…learning to see albeit dimly, through the haze of our own cultural lenses" (Delpit, 1995, pg.69). Delpit's article identifies the four problems of educating poor and culturally diverse children she believes educators need to resolve in order to achieve multiculturalism in the classroom.
Tompkins, G. (2010). Literacy for the 21st century: A balanced approach. (5th ed., pp. 12-286). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
Winch, G., Johnston, R., March, P., Ljungdahl, L., & Holliday, M. (2010). Literacy: Reading, writing and children’s literature (4th ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.
In a class where there are many Indigenous children who do not speak English naturally encouraging a mother who can speak both languages to assist in the classroom or a multi-lingual teacher’s aide can really help increase the children’s experience. Aboriginal stories read in class engage Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students. Literacy and learning methods used with Aboriginal students are equally valid for non-Indigenous students. Aboriginal children’s books are important in the class room as it provides Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students with an understanding of Aboriginal Culture. (Johnston, 2010)