Diverse Literacy Learners: Deficit Versus Productive Pedagogies

Abstract

Purpose – Our purpose in this chapter is to argue for a rethinking of the way we approach diversity in the classroom. We argue that the diversity of contemporary classrooms is a positive resource that can benefit all learners.Design/methodology/approach – We open our chapter with vignettes from both authors to help the reader understand our own experiences of working with diversity in classrooms. We then define diversity and outline why it is important. Finally we provide overviews of different theoretical perspectives on diversity which are helpful for positioning diversity in positive rather than deficit ways.Findings – We provide evidence from the literature from different theoretical perspectives on diversity in the classroom and show how they are helpful for thinking about literacy teaching and learning in contemporary classrooms.Research limitations/implications – We intentionally highlight approaches to working with diversity, which view diversity as a resource rather than a problem that needs to be fixed. These align with our personal experiences of working with diversity in the opening vignettes.Practical implications – In this chapter we provide classroom teachers with examples from our various research and personal experiences to illustrate how the diversity of classrooms can be empowering for students and teachers alike.Originality/value of chapter – Teachers and other educational stakeholders must acknowledge and embrace the diversity of our classrooms today. Viewing diversity as a resource for learning is potentially empowering and transformational for all students.

Citation

Rennie, J. and Ortlieb, E. (2013), "Diverse Literacy Learners: Deficit Versus Productive Pedagogies", Ortlieb, E. and Cheek, E.H. (Ed.) School-Based Interventions for Struggling Readers, K-8 (Literacy Research, Practice and Evaluation, Vol. 3), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 203-218. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2048-0458(2013)0000003014