Title: “Teachers’ Perceptions and Practices of Cultural Literacy”
Principal Investigator:
- [Contact: holly.ogden@queensu.ca]
Funding and Support: Centre of Community Engagement and Social Change (CCESC); Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston; QUFA Fund for Scholarly Research and Creative Work and Professional Development
Start Date: October 2024 – present
Project Summary / Abstract:
This research explores how elementary students develop cultural literacy in the 21st century, defined as the disposition and competence to engage with cultural differences and shape personal identity through respectful social interaction. Centering the role of teachers, the study examines how elementary educators perceive and practice cultural literacy over the course of a school year. Four teachers from Grades 2–4—two in rural and two in urban communities—participated in this qualitative study through semi-structured interviews and collaborative planning sessions. Classes were partnered with students paired as Pen Pals, writing back and forth and spending eleven school days together in various urban and rural settings. Preliminary findings underscore the importance of consistent, in-person connections; the potential of digital tools for authentic intercultural communication; and the need for classroom-embedded professional development that offers diverse experiences and perspectives. Implications highlight the value of involving educators, students, and communities in shaping inclusive learning environments; strengthening inter-school partnerships; and enhancing curricula to reflect diverse, local, and real-world perspectives. Future research will examine how integrating cultural literacy impacts student engagement, social-emotional learning, and critical thinking.
Read more about the project: https://educ.queensu.ca/research/CCESC/Blog/bridging-worlds