Introduction
The theme of this conference is in-depth learning through deep reading of texts for the English-language primary and secondary classroom, as well as teacher education. By in-depth learning we mean an approach that aims to reconnect school learning with the world beyond, helping students to invest in their learning as they understand its relevance for their lives outside of school. In-depth learning involves the students as motivated participants, preparing for and confronting the challenges of today and of times ahead. The conference will discuss diversity and critical literacy with children’s literature, and interculturality as an active process. Deep reading of literary texts means transacting with and participating actively in the text, experiencing empathy and perspective-taking, while generating, for example, creative, multilingual, or artistic response. Deep reading encompasses cognitively demanding contemplative processes, such as inferencing, and negotiation of insights by talking around texts. Deep reading also entails reading critically, and potentially against the text.
RidEL 2024 is a cooperation between Norwegian and Canadian project partners (Nord University and Bishop’s University), and invites proposals for papers and panels on language learning around the world (English languages and literatures). Proposals on the affordances of literary texts for the learning of other languages are also welcome if the research results are interesting for language learning in general. We invite papers on in-depth learning with different children’s literature text types (which might include picturebooks, young adult literature, film, graphic novels, chapter books, story apps, verse novels, documentaries, poetry, short stories, oral storytelling and drama) and discussing opportunities for creative and transformative response in the classroom or in teacher education.
Organizing committee
Janice Bland
Janice Bland is Full Professor of English Education, Nord University, Norway, guest professor at OsloMet University, and editor-in-chief of Children’s Literature in English Language Education. Janice is a teacher educator, focusing on English language and literature pedagogy for primary and secondary schools, with research interests in critical literacy, global issues, creative writing, children’s literature from picturebooks to young adult fiction, interculturality and drama methodology.
Sunny Man Chu Lau
Sunny Man Chu Lau, Full Professor in the School of Education at Bishop’s University, Québec, is Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Integrated Plurilingual Teaching and Learning. She specializes in critical literacies, literature and language teaching, teaching English as a second language, plurilingual pedagogy, and participative-based research methodologies. She co-edits the international journal Critical Inquiry in Language Studies.
Nayr Correia Ibrahim
Nayr Correia Ibrahim is Associate Professor of English Subject Pedagogy at Nord University in Norway and member of CLELT (Nord Research Group for Children’s Literature in ELT) and peer reviewer for the CLELEjournal. Her research interests include bi/multilingualism, early language learning, multiple literacies, language and identity, learning to learn, children’s literature and children’s rights.
Ruta Andreassen
Ruta Andreassen is a university lecturer and the head of teaching practice for integrated master programmes of teacher education (MAGLU) at Nord University, Bodø, Norway. She has been a member of a partnership project between Nord University and Bankgata School and a community liaison in the national network for teacher education programmes in Norway (UHR – nasjonalt organ for grunnskolelærerutdanninger).
Wendy King
Wendy King is a Contract Faculty professor at Bishop’s University, teaching various courses in teacher education. She worked with the Eastern Townships School Board, as a teacher, and then as the Board’s Language Arts Consultant, responsible for support and professional development of teachers. As well, Wendy worked with Québec’s Ministry of Education on various projects and committees.
David Valente
Lindsay Tolton
Lindsay Tolton is a master’s student in Education at Bishop’s University. She has taught English as a second language in a variety of settings, including 10 years as professor of English at Universidad de Concepción in Chile. She holds a B.A. from Drew University in English Literature.
Charlotta Maria Langejan
Charlotta Maria Langejan is Study Programme Coordinator at campus Bodø for the programmes Master Teacher Education for grades 1-7 and 5-10. She is also International Coordinator at the faculty. She has a master’s degree in education from Åbo Akademi, Finland and another one in Humanitarian Action (International Relations) from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. She is also a qualified teacher.
Heather McKendry
Heather McKendry is the owner of McKendry Academic Consulting in Bodø, Norway. She completed her graduate training at Queen’s University in Canada and has worked as a Lecturer at Yale University, as an RAA for the Research Office at McMaster University, and as a Project Coordinator at Nord University.
