Creating Critical Classrooms: K-8 Reading and Writing With an Edge

by Mitzi A. Lewison, Jerome C. Harste

This book for elementary and middle school teachers and literacy methods courses articulates a powerful theory of critical literacy instruction. Critical literacy practices encourage students to use language to question the everyday world, interrogate the relationship between language and power, analyze popular culture and media, understand how power relationships are socially constructed, and consider actions that can be taken to promote social justice. By providing both a model for critical literacy instruction and many examples of how critical practices can be enacted in daily school life in elementary and middle school classrooms, Creating Critical Classrooms meets a huge need for a practical, theoretically based text on this topic.

Genres: Education

392 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2007

Reviews

[Synthia Salomon, Ed.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned specific terms, descriptions, and core assumptions of kinds of citizens.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book has a K-8 focus, there are some good ideas for any classroom. I'm not sure about the "Edge" in the title, but it has its moments.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scenarios and activities presented in this text by Lewison, Leland, and Harste are excellent. Children love these lessons. I especially enjoy the "side notes" by Harste.

[Mitzi Adkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book worth reading for any educator. One of the authors was an IUPUI professor that I respect.