Reading Between the Lines: How Culture Shapes Conversations on Literacy Learning

• In Event: Reading: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

The "Reading Wars," fixated on phonics versus whole language, neglect culture's vital role in reading development. This paper argues the debate creates a false dichotomy that overlooks the needs of students from diverse backgrounds. As scholars focused on social justice education, we draw on culturally responsive pedagogies (Ladson-Billings, 1995; Paris & Alim, 2017) to analyze narratives informed by our experiences teaching literacy in the US and Bangladesh. These narratives highlight the limitations of the Reading Wars by focusing on culture, multilingualism, and marginalized student voices. We advocate for culturally responsive reading practices that empower all students to develop strong literacy skills to move teachers and teacher education beyond the limitations of the current debate.

Authors

• Miriam Ruzicka, Pennsylvania State University

• Moutushi Mahreen, Pennsylvania State University