Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

Educational Studies

First Advisor

Kamania Wynter-Hoyte

Abstract

The Hartford Area Education Network (a pseudonym) adopted EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) in response to the passage of the Right to Read Act by the Connecticut General Assembly. Multinational Magnet School, (a pseudonym) which is operated by the Hartford Area Education Network, uses EL Education for its literacy instruction in all kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms. Module 3 of the fourth-grade sequence discusses perspectives of the American Revolution, though it minimally discusses people of color. Guided by a theoretical framework that incorporates critical pedagogy, Critical Race Theory, and decolonizing pedagogy, my qualitative action research study looked at how critical literacy as a pedagogy can diversify the prescribed content. My study was guided by two questions: (a) How do I, as a fourth-grade teacher, use critical literacy to increase representations of culturally and linguistically diverse learners? and (b) What trends emerge in student learning when fourth graders utilize critical literacy to challenge master narratives presented in pre-packaged literacy programs? My methodology incorporated narrative inquiry and Indigenous methodologies into the qualitative action research design and aligns with a constructivist paradigm. Data were collected through (a) critical document analysis of curricular documents, researcher generated artifacts, and student created artifacts; (b) classroom observations using video recording and field notes; and (c) semi-structured interviews. A priori coding supported deductive coding, which yielded three themes: (a) reclaiming instructional planning, (b) empowering students’ critical voice, and (c) comparisons between curricular narratives and counter narratives. Two conclusions were drawn from these themes: (a) critical literacy transforms pre-packaged programs and (b) critical literacy advances freedom for all.

Rights

© 2025, Theodore Reginald Martinez

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