Critical texts in literacy teacher education: Living inquiries into racial justice and immigration
Abstract
In this article, we use practitioner research to explore the challenges and possibilities of including critical texts in elementary classrooms. In particular, we illustrate what happens when we invite preservice teachers to live a critical curriculum in two undergraduate literacy methods courses in distinct geographical locations. After situating the research within the current political moment characterized by standardization and discourses of certainty, we review existing literature on the challenges and opportunities of bringing social issues and critical texts into elementary classrooms. We then draw upon data from two undergraduate literacy methods courses to illustrate how pedagogies that center non-mainstream perspectives, make space for student inquiry, and model uncertainty have the potential to prompt preservice teachers to overcome barriers to including critical texts and to think differently about what might be possible in literacy teaching and learning.
Reference
Riley, K., & Crawford-Garrett, K. (2016). Critical texts in literacy teacher education: Living inquiries into racial justice and immigration. Language Arts, 94(2), 94.
Journal
Language Arts
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
no
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
- cross-case analysis
- practitioner research
- Qualitiative
Geographic Setting
- northeast US
- Southwestern United States
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
- undergraduate preservice teachers
Preservice Sample Size
48
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- anecdotal notes
- artifacts
- data analysis memos
- Focus group discussions
- Focus group interviews
- Photographs
- student work
Data Analysis Tools
- coding (non-specific)
- cross-source analysis
- open coding and examined for emergent themes
- Qualitative Analysis
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
- Inside (studying their own practices)
Research Questions
not stated
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Unknown