Looking at literacy learners: making sense of observations

Abstract

Teachers' observations of students in literacy classrooms have long been regarded as important components of 'good' literacy teaching. Nevertheless, recent research has argued that the 'lens' that is used to view students as literacy learners can make a considerable difference to what is seen. Drawing on data from a study that investigated the literacy learning of itinerant farm workers' children, this paper considers narratives told by two teachers about a middle-years student in a North Queensland primary school. In showing the contrasting meanings assigned by the two teachers to the one student, this paper highlights the importance of thinking beyond what has been seen and considering the meanings that are given to teachers' observations, as these may have important consequences for students’ literacy learning.