How can teachers foster critical literacy in PK–3?

• A. Discuss author purpose, bias, and multiple perspectives; connect texts to students' experiences
• B. Teach only decoding
• C. Avoid discussing author intent
• D. Focus solely on grammar

Answer: (A)

Critical literacy in early elementary is about reading with a questioning mindset: recognizing that texts are crafted with particular purposes, biases, and viewpoints, and that readers’ own experiences shape how they interpret what they read. When you discuss author purpose, bias, and multiple perspectives, students see that texts aren’t neutral. They begin to ask why the author included certain details, what point of view is being shown or left out, and how different people might experience the story differently.

Connecting texts to students’ experiences helps them relate meaning to their own lives, which makes questioning and analyzing text more concrete. For example, a story about a community issue can lead to discussions about who is affected, what solutions might work, and what perspectives are missing. Through these conversations, students practice weighing evidence, explaining their thinking, and considering alternative viewpoints.

This approach builds skills that go beyond decoding or grammar. Focusing only on decoding teaches how to read words but not how to understand meaning, purpose, or influence. Avoiding author intent leaves students without a sense of how writing choices shape messages. Focusing solely on grammar misses the broader ideas and perspectives within texts.