Using Critical Literacy in Early Childhood

CBC 254

The objective of this workshop is to guide participants to reflect about how their beliefs related to social justice and critical literacy influence their actual teaching practices as early childhood educators. The second purpose is to support participants with the creation of a plan to include critical literacy as part of their teaching practices in their classrooms. An essential goal of early childhood education should be to support young children to become aware of inequalities in society and to question the stereotypes that they have been exposed to while growing up. These goals can be reached by using children´s literature which is a powerful resource to encourage young children to learn about themselves and to value diverse cultures, people and worldviews. Fostering discussions about the written and visual messages presented in books can estimulate genuine dialogues and develop critical literacy skills in young children.