Informational Essay
Informational Essay
Critical literacy texts are important for the learning of children of all ages. They bring up and discuss subjects that are difficult to talk about, and help the child gain an understanding of a variety of different difficult subjects. As Meller says, “Critical literacy literature consists of high-quality children’s books that prompt children to think and talk about social issues that impact their daily lives.” (Meller, 2009. P.76) Using critical learning in a classroom environment teaches the students to think critically about difficult subjects and helps expand their knowledge about the world.
An important subject to discuss with children using a critical learning approach is the subject of divorce. According to a divorce statistics website, “Current divorce statistics in America is estimated at 50%.” (2010, p.1) Of the families that divorce, a total of forty percent have children involved. This means that there will be children in the classrooms that are living with divorced children. Using critical literacy to help them understand what is happening to their families and help them through this time is important.
Divorce can be a difficult topic to bring up in classrooms. Critical literacy can be used in ways to bring up the subject without outright talking about it. One of the ways that critical literacy can be used to talk about divorce is through bibliotherapy. As Kramer says in an article talking about helping with the pain of divorce, “Bibliotherapy is a term "coined in the early 1900s to identify printed materials that influence the way people think and feel and help them solve problems” (Kramer, 1998. p. 89) Using critical literacy texts on the subject of divorce, bibliotherapy can be used as a way to help children understand what is going on in their lives.
A way to use critical literacy about divorce in the classroom would be to read a book on the subject of divorce that corresponds to the children’s age level. For early elementary, read it to the students and ask questions while going through the text to help facilitate their learning. Have them write about the subject and if they feel like it share what they have written.
There are many different subjects that critical literacy can be used to talk about. Using critical literacy expands the children’s knowledge and understanding about very difficult subjects. As McDaniel says in an article on critical literacy, “By developing critical perspectives toward texts, students can transfer these skills to the larger society, thereby "reading" their world through a critical stance that leads to empowerment.” (McDaniel, 2004. p. 473) Teachers should empower the students in their classrooms. Critical literacy is a valuable tool to use in this regard. It can be used to improve knowledge and understanding on difficult subjects such as divorce. Divorce is a common problem in the United States, and the more children learn about it the less painful it will be to them. Using critical learning to talk about divorce to students is important and will help ease the pain or improve their understanding about the difficult subject of divorce.
Critical literacy texts are important for the learning of children of all ages. They bring up and discuss subjects that are difficult to talk about, and help the child gain an understanding of a variety of different difficult subjects. As Meller says, “Critical literacy literature consists of high-quality children’s books that prompt children to think and talk about social issues that impact their daily lives.” (Meller, 2009. P.76) Using critical learning in a classroom environment teaches the students to think critically about difficult subjects and helps expand their knowledge about the world.
An important subject to discuss with children using a critical learning approach is the subject of divorce. According to a divorce statistics website, “Current divorce statistics in America is estimated at 50%.” (2010, p.1) Of the families that divorce, a total of forty percent have children involved. This means that there will be children in the classrooms that are living with divorced children. Using critical literacy to help them understand what is happening to their families and help them through this time is important.
Divorce can be a difficult topic to bring up in classrooms. Critical literacy can be used in ways to bring up the subject without outright talking about it. One of the ways that critical literacy can be used to talk about divorce is through bibliotherapy. As Kramer says in an article talking about helping with the pain of divorce, “Bibliotherapy is a term "coined in the early 1900s to identify printed materials that influence the way people think and feel and help them solve problems” (Kramer, 1998. p. 89) Using critical literacy texts on the subject of divorce, bibliotherapy can be used as a way to help children understand what is going on in their lives.
A way to use critical literacy about divorce in the classroom would be to read a book on the subject of divorce that corresponds to the children’s age level. For early elementary, read it to the students and ask questions while going through the text to help facilitate their learning. Have them write about the subject and if they feel like it share what they have written.
There are many different subjects that critical literacy can be used to talk about. Using critical literacy expands the children’s knowledge and understanding about very difficult subjects. As McDaniel says in an article on critical literacy, “By developing critical perspectives toward texts, students can transfer these skills to the larger society, thereby "reading" their world through a critical stance that leads to empowerment.” (McDaniel, 2004. p. 473) Teachers should empower the students in their classrooms. Critical literacy is a valuable tool to use in this regard. It can be used to improve knowledge and understanding on difficult subjects such as divorce. Divorce is a common problem in the United States, and the more children learn about it the less painful it will be to them. Using critical learning to talk about divorce to students is important and will help ease the pain or improve their understanding about the difficult subject of divorce.
References:
McDaniel, Cynthia. (2004) Critical literacy: a questioning stance and the possibility
for change. The Reading Teacher. Vol 57 p. 472-481
Kramer, Pamela A. (1998) Easing the pain of divorce through children’s literature. Early
Childhood Education Journal. - Vol 26 p. 89-94
Author unknown. (2010) Divorce statistics. Divorce Statistics. Retrieved April
10,2015. From http://www.divorcestatistics.org
Meller, Wendy. (2009) Using read-alouds with critical literacy literature in K–3
classrooms. Young Children p. 76-78
McDaniel, Cynthia. (2004) Critical literacy: a questioning stance and the possibility
for change. The Reading Teacher. Vol 57 p. 472-481
Kramer, Pamela A. (1998) Easing the pain of divorce through children’s literature. Early
Childhood Education Journal. - Vol 26 p. 89-94
Author unknown. (2010) Divorce statistics. Divorce Statistics. Retrieved April
10,2015. From http://www.divorcestatistics.org
Meller, Wendy. (2009) Using read-alouds with critical literacy literature in K–3
classrooms. Young Children p. 76-78