Using picturebooks to support student teachers to address complex social justice issues in early childhood education settings

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aotearoa New Zealand society is diverse in its ethnic, cultural and linguistic composition. Teachers in all education settings in this country are required to develop learning focused-cultures that are collaborative, respectful and inclusive for all children/students and their families. In this article, we report on a case study describing how picturebooks were utilised in a compulsory graduate course entitled ‘Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing’ for preservice early childhood education (ECE) student teachers. Thirteen picturebooks selected to match weekly topics were shared with students in face-to-face and online classes. Weekly reflections by the tertiary lecturer/teacher educator relating to the picturebooks, associated readings and subsequent discussions by students were analysed to explore student teacher responses to the picturebooks. The findings are discussed in relation to exploring the power of picturebooks as pedagogical tools in a tertiary environment and as advocacy and activism provocations for student teachers and teachers to use with children/students and their families.