Literature in early Childhood Education. An invitation to think about our teaching practice

Abstract

This work analyzes the practices carried out by teachers in early Childhood Education in relation to the approach to Literature in the classroom. It constitutes part of the doctoral thesis “Spaces for mediation and cultural appropriation: the approach to Literature in early childhood education. A study with teachers of kindergarten in the city of San Luis”, admitted in the PhD Education program at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, UNCuyo. Literature for children has undergone a long way until reaching the autonomy it has today as a disciplinary field. From the beginning, it has been linked to moral principles and teachings. However, little by little a new orientation strengthened and it acquired its own new features. At present, the focus is placed on the enjoyment, moving away from the formative function, and considering it a way to construct and generate meanings. Nevertheless, the relations between literature and the school are still subject of study and controversy. Structured interviews to teachers of four- and five-year-olds and non participant observations are processed as collection tools during the present
year in state and private institutions.