Overview

Teaching Climate Change to Children describes the journey of two literacy researchers to learn about climate change and support relevant literacy pedagogy for young children (pre-K–6). The authors argue that climate change and social justice are inextricable from each other; that children in the younger grades are capable of learning about climate change; and that reading, writing, and language study is well-suited to this work. Three anchoring themes are offered to support literacy-based climate pedagogy—interconnectivity, relationality, and action—with rich classroom examples and different entry points to engage with these themes, either by “starting small” or “going big.” The text includes chapters on the importance of taking an emotionally affirming stance and on the potential of incorporating arts-based methods. With love for the Earth and one another at its core, this accessible book takes a broad view of what it means to cultivate sustainable futures for our planet, for teachers, and for children in today’s schools. Book Features: A unique focus on teaching about climate change to young children, as opposed to adolescents. Insights drawn from a yearlong teacher inquiry group with classroom teachers and from literacy methods courses with preservice teachers. Explicit attention to the importance of humanizing and care-based practices in literacy-based climate pedagogy. Classroom examples collected across four urban public schools where teachers used the activities and resources discussed in the book. User-friendly textboxes with suggestions and questions to guide discussion, reflection, and action.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rebecca Woodard ,  Kristine M. Schutz ,  Carla Shalaby
Publisher:   Teachers' College Press
Imprint:   Teachers' College Press
Dimensions:   Width: 16.20cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.349kg
ISBN:  

9780807769799

ISBN 10:   0807769797
Pages:   176
Publication Date:   22 March 2024
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Contents Foreword  Carla Shalaby  xi Preface  xiii Content and Organization of the Book  xv Jumping Into the Work  xvi Acknowledgments   xvii 1.  Being of Use: Teaching Children About Climate Change Through Literacy  1 The Imperative to Address Climate Change as an Issue of Justice  2 Why Children and Elementary Teachers  4 Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy With Children  5 Seeds and Roots: Our Yearlong Climate Justice Inquiry Group  7 2.  Lighting Our Way: Anchoring Themes for a Literature-Rich Climate Curriculum That Centers Diverse Books  11 Anchoring Themes for a Literature-Rich Climate Curriculum  13 Anchoring Theme 1: Interconnectivity  14 Anchoring Theme 2: Relationality  20 Children's Literature Can Root Explorations of the Anchoring Themes  27 3.  Starting Small: Growing Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy by Enhancing Existing Curricula  31 Making Space  32 Textual Entry Point  33 Skills, Strategies, and Practices Entry Point  37 Topical Entry Point  42 Place-Based Entry Point  44 Starting Small Plants Seeds  46 4.  Going Big: Growing Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy Through Unit Design  49 Principles for Designing Literacy Units About Climate Change  50 Exemplar Units From Pre-K to Teacher Education  62 Tips and Tools to Support Literacy Climate Unit Design  69 5.  Embracing Feelings: The Importance of an Emotionally Affirming Stance in Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy  73 Big Feelings to Anticipate During Climate Education  74 Lessons From Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Pedagogies  75 Starting With Inner Work: Educators Making Space to Feel and Engage in Meaning-Focused Coping  77 Classroom Practices to Support Emotionally Affirming Reading and Writing About Climate Change  79 Embracing Feelings Prepares Us for Sustained Action  92 6.  Nourishing Our Hearts: The Promise of the Arts in Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy  95 Roles of the Arts in Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy  96 Examples of Various Art Forms From Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogies Used With Elementary Teachers and Children  101 Sustainable Art-Making  109 Arts Nourish Our Hearts  110 7.  We Are Not Alone: How Elementary Teachers Can Take Action Now to Cultivate Sustainable Futures  113 Growing Meaningful Literacy Pedagogy  114 Cultivating Connections and Meaningful Professional Learning  118 Caring for Each Other, Our Profession, and Our World When Our House Is on Fire  122 References  127 Children's and Young Adult Literature  140 Index  143 About the Authors  153

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Author Information

Rebecca Woodard is an associate professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Illinois Chicago and faculty director of the Chicago Area Writing Project. Kristine M. Schutz is an associate professor in curriculum and instruction and co-coordinator of the Language, Literacies, and Learning MEd program at the University of Illinois Chicago.

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