Literacy, Black self‐representation, and cultural practice in an elementary classroom: implications for teaching children of African‐Caribbean heritage

Abstract

This study examines literacy strategies used by Black teachers who aimed to create an environment in which African‐Canadian pupils could develop literacy skills as well as learn their social histories and personal identities as children of African heritage. The study site, located in a low‐income area of Ontario, Canada, was a school with a student population that was 80% Black. The data for the study were drawn from interviews with teachers about their pedagogy and from participant observations in their classrooms. Based on the findings, some implications for teacher education as well as for culturally supportive pedagogies for children of African heritage are considered.