ERIC Number: EJ1368445
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-6620
EISSN: EISSN-2158-6098
"It Made Me See What Kind of Teacher I Want to Be:" Critical Literacy in a Pre-Service Literacy Methods Course
Action in Teacher Education, v44 n4 p290-307 2022
Drawing on critical literacy as a theoretical framework, this paper explores how a children's book writing assignment designed to center the experiences of underrepresented communities in children's literature contributed to shifts in awareness among predominantly White teacher candidates. The study occurred at a large urban university in California and included 77 participants who all participated in a required Literacy Methods course in a teacher preparation program. Teacher candidate surveys and critical content analysis of candidate-authored books revealed that candidates: (1) selected topics to write about because they had a personal connection to the issue or because of its relevance to their students; (2) created books that evidenced their ability to apply traditional literacy concepts through a critical lens, (3) evidenced a deepened understanding of representation and diversity in children's literature. Findings highlight the importance of critical literacy experiences in teacher preparation as a way to develop teacher candidates' critical lens. Implications include the importance of integrating critical literacy with traditional literacy content -- it is not something "extra;" the need for a critical perspective to be an integral part of Teacher Performance Expectations and standards; and the need for ongoing professional development for both teachers and teacher educators.
Descriptors: Critical Literacy, Literacy Education, Teacher Education Programs, Childrens Literature, Writing Assignments, Preservice Teachers, Urban Universities, Diversity, Methods Courses, Teaching Methods, Outcomes of Education, Student Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A