Influences of Life Experiences on Literacy Teacher Educators' Teaching for Social Justice: You Teach Who You Are

• In Event: Promising Pedagogy in Preservice Teacher Education

Abstract

This study of 30 literacy teacher educators (LTEs) in four countries (Canada, US, England, and Australia) considers how their life experiences influenced their current work. LTEs did a timeline of their development which showed that pivotal events occurred during their childhood, during their classroom teaching, or during doctoral studies. The aspects of social justice they addressed in their courses were directly related to their previous experiences. Some of the pedagogies for addressing social justice were: sharing their own stories, placing student teachers in diverse schools, and having students doing unpack their own stories.

Authors

• Clare Kosnik, University of Toronto/OISE

• Lydia Menna, University of Alberta

• Pooja Dharamshi, Simon Fraser University

• Clive M. Beck, OISE/University of Toronto