Bridging Literacy and Equity

Bridging Literacy and Equity synthesizes the essential research and practice of social equity literacy teaching in one succinct, user-friendly volume. Chapters identify six key dimensions of social equity teaching that can help teachers see their students’ potential and create conditions that will support their literacy development. Serving students well depends on understanding relationships between race, class, culture, and literacy; the complexity and significance of culture; and the culturally situated nature of literacy. It also requires knowledge of culturally responsive practices, such as collaborating with and learning from caregivers, using cultural referents, enacting critical and transformative literacy practices, and seeing the capacities of English language learners and children who speak African American Language.

Each chapter includes a “Reflection and Inquiry” section, with exercises to help readers relate chapter concepts and issues to their own teaching practices.