Miss Emma

Critical Literacy: Promoting Curiosity 

Being innovative and creative when teaching is vital as it sparks student’s curiosity. If students aren’t curious they lack motivation to learn and learning no longer becomes valuable or cared about. Though this blog runs with the constant Magic School bus theme, I think it is incredibly important to note why I have chosen it. I have chosen it because Miss Frizzle, though a cartoon character promotes curiosity and a passion for learning for her students, and most importantly she encourages her students to constantly ask questions.

In learning about critical literacy it has become apparent that perhaps our views of the world must constantly be examined and questioned. The society in which we live is ever changing and the experiences that our students face are drastically different then our own. Guest lecturer, Dr. Mark Anthony Castrodale explained that through teaching critical literacy, it will give students a new way of understanding themselves and others in the world which I believe truly sparks a child’s motivation and curiosity of learning.  Ultimately through teaching critical literacy is allows students to view the world in a whole new light. Recently, the Ontario Association of Deans of Education by Dr. Roberge (2013) published an article on teaching critical literacy and found that through teaching students how to analyze diverse view points and question societal constructs as well as power relationships resulted in the construction of a more caring and safe classroom environment. Interestingly, Roberge (2013) not only linked critical literacy to reducing bullying but to a variety of curriculum expectations and topics. As a result, I found this to be incredibly valuable as a future teacher as it provided many suggestions on how to incorporate various games and activities that encouraged children to question the “truth” and various stereotypes.

Enabling children to question the “truth” directly relates to understanding and evaluating power relations. This links to Paolo Friere’s pedagogy of the oppressed as he emphasized that the purpose of education was to create social change. Critical literacy incorporates that notion and encourages students to open their eyes to what is going on in the world through various view points. In a video by Kayla Dezler from Ted Talks she provides a unique perspective on classroom dynamics by suggests that students be given opportunities to act as leaders and teachers within the classroom. I think this goes directly with critical literacy and enables students to evaluate power relations and their own beliefs and views on the world around them while learning about the unique views of theirs peers.

Overall, I am truly excited about implementing some of the activities and ideas presented by Dr. Castrodale that includes showing students the youtube video of: ‘Fixed” and incorporating activities suggested by Dr. Roberge that include the ‘culture game’ that encourages children to look at social change and a variety of perspectives into my classroom teaching. I also hope to give students leadership roles within my classroom that allows them to decide which trip our magic school bus should take in order to answer their questions and enhance their motivation to learn!

References: 

Roberge, G. (2013, June). What Works? Research Into Practice. Retrieved February 20, 2016, from https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/WW_PromotingCriticalLiteracy.pdf

Pictures: 

https://learningshouldbemessy.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/critical-literacy-wordle2.gif

http://theimpersonals.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/284849.jpg

Video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vVXmwYvgs