Critical literacy is an instructional approach that advocates the adoption of "critical" perspectives toward text. It involves actively analyzing texts and includes strategies for uncovering underlying messages. The purpose of critical literacy is to create self-awareness of the topic at hand. Critical literacy should be viewed as a lens, frame, or perspective for teaching throughout the day, across the curriculum, and perhaps beyond, rather than as a topic to be covered or unit to be studied. Key aspects of critical literacy include:
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Questioning and examination of ideas: Critical literacy involves making sense of the sociopolitical systems through which we live our lives and questioning these systems.
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Transformative practices: Critical literacy practices can be transformative and contribute to changing inequitable ways of being and problematic social practices.
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Analyzing and evaluating texts: Critical literacy involves analyzing and evaluating different ideas expressed in course material. This includes identifying key elements of text, asking questions, and making notes.
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Equipping students with a critical stance: Critical literacy involves equipping students with a critical stance, response, or action towards an issue.
Overall, critical literacy seeks to develop students ability to think critically about the texts they read or listen to, and to question and examine the sociopolitical systems through which we live our lives.
