Literacy Education, Equity, and Attitude

The word “attitude” has different meanings. While some educators wish their students had less attitude, others are looking for ways to help students develop the kind of questioning, critical attitude that will allow them to interrogate and rethink what they already know or take for granted. This article describes a teacher education program that was consciously designed to help future teachers develop the kind of attitude that would allow them to see both literacy and teaching through a new lens. A case study approach follows one student through this program and into her own urban classroom. Data sources include pieces from the student’s journal, instructor responses, and conversations among the instructors and the former student four years later.