Week 12

In the article, Teaching about language, power, and text: A review of classroom practices that support critical literacy consisted of the author examining lessons and units that were created for critical literacy at the upper or primary grade levels. The author points out six broad categories based on student activities or tasks. The six categories are; reading supplementary texts, reading multiple texts, reading from a resistance perspective, producing counter texts, conducting student-choice research projects, and taking social action. Although these six categories have been presented as discrete, in many classrooms, activities are merged so that students are engaged in two or more of the tasks. I liked these six categories for literacy instruction. I think if used correctly in a unit or lesson they can become beneficial for the student.

In the article, Becoming Critical Consumer and Producers of Text: Teaching Literacy with Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 consisted of information for a variety of tools available online for teachers to use in their classroom with their students to become critical text consumers and producers. I liked the section about Writing with Comic Creator because I feel Writer’s Workshop is very important at the elementary level. The elementary level is when students learn how to become writers, but if a teacher does not make writing interesting and engaging I personally feel they could loose a student’s interest in the writing process. By having the students use ReadWriteThink.com the students can create their own comic strip. This is a fun creative way for students to write and be engaged in the writing process.