ERIC Number: EJ758903
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 37
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1086-296X
EISSN: N/A
Researching Critical Literacy: A Critical Study of Analysis of Classroom Discourse
Van Sluys, Katie; Lewison, Mitzi; Flint, Amy Seely
Journal of Literacy Research, v38 n2 p197-233 2006
Studying critical literacies includes examining how research practices influence what is learned about classroom activity and the world. This article highlights the processes and practices used in studying 1 classroom conversation. The data, drawn from an elementary school classroom of a Critical Literacy in Action teacher-researcher group member, features 2 girls exploring issues of hairstyle, race, and cultural identity. Data were analyzed using 3 lenses--grounded theory, existing typologies for content analysis, and critical discourse analysis. Findings highlight how the students drew on and used diverse textual resources, sources of knowledge, and critical practices, as well as how participants situated themselves within larger social discourse. These findings were then collectively analyzed to further understand the nuances of using each analytic tool and the implications for this classroom and critical literacy research at large. Our research design, experiences, and findings invite further exploration of the promises, challenges, and complexities of studying classroom practices from critical perspectives.
Descriptors: Research Design, Discourse Analysis, Content Analysis, Classroom Techniques, Elementary School Students, Classroom Research, Classroom Environment, Classroom Communication, Teacher Researchers
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Journal Subscription Department, 10 Industrial Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262. Tel: 800-926-6579; e-mail: journals@erlbaum.com; Web site: http://www.leaonline.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A