It's More Than Just Science: Critical Literacy, Climate Justice, and the Preparation of Preservice Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers

• In Event: Do Equity and Justice Anchor STEM Practice? Unpacking Variation in Teacher Learning, Research, and Instructional Practice

Abstract

In this proposal, we discuss findings from a research project where we focus on how to prepare elementary and early childhood teachers to teach about climate change and climate justice. The topic of climate change is often politically charged, and does not sit neatly within a single subject or content area. Rather, many of the skills needed to develop climate science literacy, overlap with critical literacy skills. Given this overlap, and our commitment to preparing teachers with a focus on anti-racist pedagogy and social justice, we designed a research study to better understand the ways that various stakeholders address climate change and climate justice with children in order to address these topics within our teacher education program.

Authors

• Ysaaca Axelrod, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Denise Ives, University of Massachusetts - Amherst