Integrating Indigenous Perspectives in Literacy Teacher Education: Studying Perceptions of Student Teachers

• In Event: 47.096 - MTCC Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 47.096-2 - The Intersectionality of Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper reports findings from a study examining the perceptions of 65 pre-service teachers (predominantly white settler Canadians) in a literacy methods course on the relationships between. Participants were invited to write critical reflections following multiple curricular activities which aimed at bringing attention to Indigenous perspectives and pedagogies to a K-9 language arts context. The reflections showed that student teachers gained an awareness of literacy as a social practice, as well as connections between Indigeneity and literacy. In addition, several made connections between the observed inequities in literacy teaching and learning and their future responsibilities as literacy educators to work towards social justice.

Author

• Pooja Dharamshi, Simon Fraser University