Beyond Shrek: fairy tale magic in the multicultural classroom

Authors: Sturgess, Janet¹; Locke, Terry²

Source: Cambridge Journal of Education, Volume 39, Number 3, September 2009 , pp. 379-402(24)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $50.43 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

This article draws on a recent research project in New Zealand on teaching literature in the multicultural classroom. Its focus is on how one teacher-researcher used the cultural and linguistic diversity of a junior, secondary English class as a resource in the development of her programme. It details a sequence of activities designed for a unit of work on the critical reading and composition of fairy tales, viewed as a popular genre across all cultures, and the impact of these activities on student participants. A range of pedagogical strategies are identified as successful: viewing cultural and linguistic diversity as a resource, empowering students to contest textual meaning, modeling, task-based inquiry and whole-class activity.

Keywords: English literature; culture; diversity; children's literature; critical thinking

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03057640903103744

Affiliations: 1: Botany Downs Secondary College, New Zealand 2: University of Waikato, New Zealand

Publication date: 2009-09-01

More about this publication?