Literacies in challenging contexts

This chapter examines the types of literacy practices that were evident across the case study data, from the early years to the later years. Given that all classrooms are situated in particular contexts and communities, with their own needs and challenges, the chapter begins with a review of the theory and associated pedagogy which might generally characterize effective and appropriate literacy practices. Using this as a benchmark, the literacy practices from each of the three stages of schooling which we investigated are here analysed and discussed in relation to both effective literacy practice and the student engagement framework.