Place, Pedagogy, and Literacy in Appalachia

Place-based pedagogy, the incorporation of local dynamics into the classroom as a step toward bridging the school-community gap, is becoming increasingly popular as educating for sustainability gains traction in schools. However, little attention has been paid to the role Appalachia has played in creating our modern sense of place-based pedagogy in education writ large and English education in particular. This article explores this role to argue for greater respect for Appalachian literacies throughout the field and a greater incorporation of place-based pedagogy within Appalachian English classrooms today.