What does Critical Literacy mean to me now?
What a learning experience! To me it critical literacy means questioning and challenging different points of view is not only okay, but a must. As a teacher, I am striving to create a space where students are encouraged to read from all perspectives. Critical literacy and its uses have changed the way I look at what I chose to present to the class and how. I already read certain questionable stories like, Rumpelstilskin, Rapunzel and of course the famed Cinderella, and I looking back I wonder if the message the students received was the message I wanted to leave them with. While there is a lot of questioning on my end as to whether I’m teaching the right things and reinforcing the right perspectives, I’m encouraged to talk more about the ‘tough questions’, present all sides of difficult topics, and explore books that set examples of how we as a community should treat each other. I’m working on letting go enough to allow my students to facilitate their own conversations, asking each other critical and crucial questions, instead of me leading the group.
I have also been encouraged to make better use of technology in the classroom. The Podcast camp was really inspiring and brought to light a lot ways I could improve the effectiveness of technology.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Interview with Ife Spradley, 1st Grade Teacher
What role does literacy play in the classroom?
It has a primary role used to build skills in reading writing thinking and listening. The classroom is a print rich environment encouraging students to use and become aware of the print that is used every day to express directions, news and announcements, and feelings. It is used to introduce certain topics across all subject areas. It is the foundation for learning different skills.
What kinds of books are chosen? Why? How?
Books chosen are grade level appropriate read a-louds, leveled readers and interdisciplinary books (science math social studies). Books are both “just right” and challenging to ensure the growth of all students. I’m not sure why certain books are chosen over others because the principal chooses them. I choose my own supplementary books based on colors, pictures, age appropriate vocabulary and topic of interest.
Who decides what books are used?
Administrations, curriculum coordinator, reading specialist, teachers (match books appropriately with student’s ability based on assessments)
What is your prospective on teaching using children’s literature?
I love using children’s literature because use of the colors, vocabulary, and diversity (hopefully) grabs their attention, and the many topics it touches inspires conversations to spontaneously occur. Often I feel like the kids are learning without even knowing it.
It has a primary role used to build skills in reading writing thinking and listening. The classroom is a print rich environment encouraging students to use and become aware of the print that is used every day to express directions, news and announcements, and feelings. It is used to introduce certain topics across all subject areas. It is the foundation for learning different skills.
What kinds of books are chosen? Why? How?
Books chosen are grade level appropriate read a-louds, leveled readers and interdisciplinary books (science math social studies). Books are both “just right” and challenging to ensure the growth of all students. I’m not sure why certain books are chosen over others because the principal chooses them. I choose my own supplementary books based on colors, pictures, age appropriate vocabulary and topic of interest.
Who decides what books are used?
Administrations, curriculum coordinator, reading specialist, teachers (match books appropriately with student’s ability based on assessments)
What is your prospective on teaching using children’s literature?
I love using children’s literature because use of the colors, vocabulary, and diversity (hopefully) grabs their attention, and the many topics it touches inspires conversations to spontaneously occur. Often I feel like the kids are learning without even knowing it.
Literature websites
I have actually saved these to my computer and shared the links with the folks at work also. Readwritethink.org is my favorite!
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/index.html
This is a site that I found while searching for 6+1 writing trait ideas. It is an excellent site for reading, vocabulary, poetry, mythology and professional resources. It is suitable for all students K-2.
http://www.amlainfo.org/home
I really enjoyed exploring this site and found that it motivated me to use different technologies to explore literacy with students. I don’t think it’s quite suitable for the little ones, but very useful for 3rd grade and higher. While critical literacy was not mentioned specifically, one link referred to investigating the media coverage of national disasters like, Hurricane Katrina. Be Prepared for the Next DisasterWhen Katrina wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast, NAMLE board members provided a collection of model lesson plans applicable to analysis of media coverage of all disasters
Here’s another off shoot of that site: http://www.medialit.org/reading_room.html
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=23
I learned about this website last semester. It’s a great literacy site complete with lesson plans. This particular page is a detailed lesson plan about critical literacy and point of view. The page indicates that this lesson is geared toward 6th-8th graders and incorporates writing as well. Perhaps with a few adjustments this lesson would be appropriate for children of younger ages.
http://books.google.com/books?id=PPtLCQFdqBgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Parents+use+critical+literacy&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0#PPR9,M1
Critical Literacy and Writer's Workshop
By Lee Heffernan
I found this website while searching for “critical literacy in the classroom”. It’s a book, that’s available for purchase, but Google had more than a description available. I thought to myself what a great resource this would be in the classroom; not only a link between reading a writing but a critical link. I’m not using “critical” as a play on words, but rather to emphasize the importance. As we create more space to talk about some social political issues, I anticipate some conversations being difficult for students to talk about it. However, if they’re given the space to also write about it (and I’m given a guide on how to do it), those conversations can be had, comfortably and effectively.
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/index.html
This is a site that I found while searching for 6+1 writing trait ideas. It is an excellent site for reading, vocabulary, poetry, mythology and professional resources. It is suitable for all students K-2.
http://www.amlainfo.org/home
I really enjoyed exploring this site and found that it motivated me to use different technologies to explore literacy with students. I don’t think it’s quite suitable for the little ones, but very useful for 3rd grade and higher. While critical literacy was not mentioned specifically, one link referred to investigating the media coverage of national disasters like, Hurricane Katrina. Be Prepared for the Next DisasterWhen Katrina wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast, NAMLE board members provided a collection of model lesson plans applicable to analysis of media coverage of all disasters
Here’s another off shoot of that site: http://www.medialit.org/reading_room.html
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=23
I learned about this website last semester. It’s a great literacy site complete with lesson plans. This particular page is a detailed lesson plan about critical literacy and point of view. The page indicates that this lesson is geared toward 6th-8th graders and incorporates writing as well. Perhaps with a few adjustments this lesson would be appropriate for children of younger ages.
http://books.google.com/books?id=PPtLCQFdqBgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Parents+use+critical+literacy&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0#PPR9,M1
Critical Literacy and Writer's Workshop
By Lee Heffernan
I found this website while searching for “critical literacy in the classroom”. It’s a book, that’s available for purchase, but Google had more than a description available. I thought to myself what a great resource this would be in the classroom; not only a link between reading a writing but a critical link. I’m not using “critical” as a play on words, but rather to emphasize the importance. As we create more space to talk about some social political issues, I anticipate some conversations being difficult for students to talk about it. However, if they’re given the space to also write about it (and I’m given a guide on how to do it), those conversations can be had, comfortably and effectively.
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