ETEC 521: Culturally Responsive Teaching & Literacy

Reflection: The Benefits of Integrating Storytelling and Oral Traditions in the Early Elementary Classroom

ETEC 521 was one of the courses that I was enrolled in my very first semester in MET. This course was invaluable in helping me to gain some foundational understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems and values, as well as further insight into how technology and education can be used to support the process of decolonization. I personally find that I am very drawn toward Indigenous pedagogies and wish that all western education school systems would fully embrace traditional ways of learning. Ultimately, it is up to educators to be culturally responsive by finding ways to approach teaching and learning through different cultural and world views. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015) called Educators to action for a good reason. Breaking down barriers through education and culturally responsive teaching has become easier through technology, as we have access to so much information and quality resources provided we take the time to find them. I really enjoyed writing this paper, as not only was I able to research two topics that are of great interest to me, early literacy development and storytelling, but I was also able to reflect upon on my own experiences as both a student and a teacher to demonstrate my connection and understanding of the topics.

MET Course
ETEC 521

Goal
Break Down Barriers with Technology

Created by
Melissa Phillips-Tucker

Date Completed
December 2020

References

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to action. https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf