Centering Children’s and Youths’ Well-Being Through Literacy Engagement in a Community-Based Space

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 11:25 am
  In Roundtable Session: Fostering Well-Being and Learning: Exploring Playful Writing and Community-Centered Literacy Engagement (Table 18)

Abstract

This paper explores how prioritizing wellbeing reframes literacy education for children and youth who are marginalized in school settings. Drawing from an integrated theoretical framework that values the interrelationality between cognitive, sociocultural, and affective theories of literacy, this research study affirms young people’s individual and collective well-being through a local community literacy partnership. Community-based literacy partnerships provide dynamic opportunities for authentic expression aligned with participants' identities and community values. Through ethnographic methods guided by assemblage theory, we explore relational dynamics within the partnership, unveiling transformative literacy experiences promoting wellbeing while countering systemic injustices. Findings focus on two themes: 1) Children and youths’ literate identities became valued by themselves and others, and 2) Community-centered, inquiry-based literacy engagement led to literacy development.

Authors

• Kelly C Johnston, Baylor University

• Camille S. Talbert, Baylor University

• Kelsey Leigh Stokes, Baylor University

• Maggie Bryant, Baylor University

• Kristen Davis, Baylor University

• Raquel Aguilar Murillo, Baylor University