Janet Seabold & Theresa Petrov Ridgefield Public Schools Library Media Services: Critical Literacy April 6, 2017 Janet Seabold & Theresa Petrov

Library Media Services Goal Ridgefield Public Schools Library Media Services goal is to teach students how to be effective researchers, enabling them to handle a problem, assignment, decision, or task by utilizing the necessary critical literacy skills.

Inclusion of Critical Literacy In order to expand upon the Research Protocol which was implemented in all grade levels K – 12 during the 2015/2016 school year, curriculum was written over the summer to incorporate critical literacy into the program for all students. Critical literacy will enable students to: Understand text in more detail to gain perspective. Analyze multiple viewpoints to think about texts from alternative perspectives of the different characters, authors, or from perspectives not represented in the texts. Examine relationships between and among people and exploring how power relationships shape perceptions, responses, and actions. Reflect on and use literacy practices to take action for social justice.  

The Media Specialist works in each school to deliver a project based task that will require students to deepen their understanding of the ideas and information they are presenting within a research project. Curriculum was written over the summer of 2016 and is aligned the usage of Google Classroom, as the District continues to transition to the use of Google Apps for Education (G-Suite). The topics for the critical literacy project are developed with the grade level and department area teachers to directly align to curriculum being taught within the subject areas. Each grade level project will have students understand that critical literacy involves imagining multiple perspectives and possibilities for their topic. “The literate individual is someone who knows that there is more than one version available.” (Green, 2001)

Critical Literacy Project Timelines Second Marking Period Grades 9 – 12 Third Marking Period Grades 3 – 8 Fourth Marking Period Grades K – 2 The first marking period was dedicated to ongoing staff development in the area of new technology and programs.

Grades K-3 Reading is Thinking Challenge the text Explore identities See beyond the bias Media literacy

Grades 4-12 In the higher grades, students are expected to expand upon the concepts learned in grades K – 3. Students at this level will: Ask difficult questions to see beyond the text Challenge common assumptions and values Explore multiple perspectives on the same topic Examine the values and beliefs presented within the text Understand that they can act with and/or against the text by inquiring further into issues raised Be provided with opportunities to reflect, draw on their own world view and explore implications of ideas for themselves and others

Questions?