AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

Children's responses to culturally relevant oracy practices

by Sarah Winona Waldron




Institution: University of Victoria
Department:
Degree: MA
Year: 2014
Keywords: Oracy; Culturally responsive; Education; Early Primary; Aboriginal; Indigenous; Culturally relevant
Record ID: 2029750
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/5667


Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative action research was to explore how early primary children respond to the implementation of culturally relevant oracy practices in an inclusive classroom. This study, which took place over five months in an inner city school in Western Canada, focused on children’s oracy skills following four events facilitated by an Aboriginal Elder. Data consisted of an oral assessment, transcriptions of the four events, artefacts created by the students, photographs, and the teacher’s research journal. Data analysis consisted of a comparative assessment of the student’s oral language skills and a content and discourse analysis of the transcriptions. Data analysis revealed that children respond favourably to culturally responsive oracy practices, that they are able to meet the B.C. Ministry of Education prescribed learning outcomes, and such practices adhere to the Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement (2005). Graduate