Negotiating Critical Literacies With Young Children

Language, Culture, and Teaching

by Vivian Maria Vasquez

Vivian Vasquez draws on her own classroom experience to demonstrate how issues raised from everyday conversations with pre-kindergarten children can be used to create an integrated critical literacy curriculum over the course of one school year. The strategies she presents are solidly grounded in relevant theory and research. In this innovative and engaging text,

*describes how she and her students negotiated a critical literacy curriculum;
*shows how they dealt with particular social and cultural issues and themes; and
*shares the insights she gained as she attempted to understand what it means to frame one's teaching from a critical literacy perspective.

Negotiating Critical Literacies With Young Children is specifically useful for early elementary (K-3) teachers as a demonstration of classroom applications of critical literacy that they can try in their own classrooms. It is equally relevant to all concerned with issues of social justice and equity in school settings and the political nature of education, and to educators at all levels who are interested in finding ways to make their curriculum critical. For preservice teachers, this book offers a model for envisioning their future practice and for recognizing the important relationship between theory and practice. Teacher educators and consultants will find this book valuable as an example of how to put a critical edge on teaching. It is intended for use as a text in reading, language arts, literacy, social justice, critical literacy, and early childhood education courses.

Genres: Education, Grad School, Nonfiction, Teaching

158 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 10th anniversary edition. I think a follow up study about how these children have matured into their high school or in a few years more, how they have navigated post secondary education would be an eye opening look into how this skill has helped their literacy and possibly give a call for revision for education.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh to go back to the classroom and teach a pre-k classroom this way. I really enjoyed reading about the students in this classroom and the problems they found. I would love to know what they are doing now! Have they continued to practice critical literacy?

[Sue Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about how one practitioner introduced critical literacy to her class of 4-5 year olds. I am completely committed to the idea that young children are capable of critical thinking, but I was impressed by the way this approach permeated the whole year in this classroom. The documentation through artefacts and commentary by teachers and children was especially useful. I just despair of finding teachers with the skills and commitment to adopt this approach.

[Liz Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A staple on my bookshelf that I refer to often. Vivian Vasquez is a pioneering critical literacy scholar in early childhood ed. As an early childhood educator I find her work highly engaging, inspiring and a very high bar to pass. There is ample theory here to ground the work Vasquez does, but as 'critical literacy needs to be lived", the children's work is what takes pride of place. A must-read for all educators of young children and anyone interested in pushing their practice further.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides a progressive/conscious/critical stance toward children's literacy practices. A must read for early childhood teachers, highly suggested for students in early childhood.

[Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful ideas for implementing social/critical issues in the classroom.

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opens your eyes to what can be done with young children (in this case 3-5 year olds) in terms of encouraging them to think critically about the world around them.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who teaches young children...opens up your eyes to lots of possibilities.

[Mills College Library]

372.6 V335 2014