Transience and Literacy - The Perspectives of Teachers (Paperback)

This book is based on a qualitative case study that uses Vygotskian sociocultural theory and Freirean critical theory to explore the perspectives of elementary teachers on the impact of transience on literacy. The teachers stories highlight how the literacy achievement and the life chances of many economically disadvantaged, linguistic, and racial minority students are being curtailed and threatened by frequent, non-routine, non-grade promotional school changes. The teachers perceived that transience has a deleterious effect on the oral language, reading, and writing development of students in elementary schools with high levels of transience. The study reveals both the macro and the micro-level dynamics of transient students' language and literacy learning and demonstrates that the schooling and literacy education of transient students is a social and political issue, and a matter of social justice for those who have little and need much more. The study presents a number of specific recommendations to respond to the challenges associated with the perceived negative impact of transience on literacy.