Exploring Picture Books: Journey to Understanding Ourselves, the World, and the Importance of Critical Literacy

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: Self-Study and Early Childhood Literacy

Abstract

Picture books are an integral part of an early childhood classroom literacy program. With the push towards academic achievement there has been little emphasis placed on utilizing picture books to teach critical literacy. This self-study was designed to contemplate how I could facilitate preservice teachers contemplating critical literacy and picture books as well as evaluate my teaching practice. Through conducting a self-study in my picture book workshop at a northeast urban community college, I found that was that were three basic components in facilitating critical literacy and picture books with preservice teachers. They were active participation of teacher educators helps build a supportive environment, a tension between facilitating and lecturing, and reframing our understanding of picture books.

Author

• Angela Pack, Montclair State University