Critical literacy och fostran till demokratiska medborgare

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this literature review is to examine what previous research tells us about the advantages and disadvantages of critical literacy in the early classroom. The research questions that we examine in this literature review concern in what way the use of critical literacy can have an impact on younger students’ sense-making, fostering of democratic citizens and critical thinking. It also concerns how the teachers' approach and didactic choices can affect the outcome of teaching through critical literacy. Due to analyzing and processing several scholarly articles; the results show that many scientists all agree on the importance of developing a critical stance in today's society. Our results show the importance of using critical literacy to develop students’ ability to think critically and read the world and not just the word. It also shows that the children of today are in need of tools that will make them both socially aware and for them to become democratic citizens to be able to function in this modern society. Critical literacy is not only important for the upbringing of democratic citizens but also for their own sense-making and to help them get involved in, and take stand in different kinds of contexts regarding big and small world issues. We have also come to understand that this way of teaching puts a lot of pressure on the teachers’ knowledge and teaching skills. The way a teacher approaches delicate subjects is in that way connected to how the results turn out. We have also highlighted what previous research tells us about how several teachers are using different methods and approaches to teach their students to think and read critically.