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The aim of this study is to describe and analyse the writing discourse in one classroom and how students learn through studying a topic, i.e. the teaching and learning of written argument. The study takes its stance from a sociocultural perspective and is influenced by discourse analyses, new literacy studies and critical literacy (Fairclough1989; Barton 2007; Janks 2010; Ivanič 2004). Data from year 6 in Sweden consists of observations, informal conversations, teachers’ planning and students’ written texts, i.e. letters to a newspaper editor. The results are presented in terms of four themes that became apparent during the reading of the data, viz. (1) teaching for learning - deconstruction; (2) dialogue and scaffolding for learning – enabling access; (3) reconstruction, feedback and students’ reflections for learning; and (4) writing to learn. The data is analysed and discussed on the basis of four concepts for developing critical literacy, viz. access, deconstruction, reconstruction and domination (cf. Janks 2010:21 – 32). The study indicates that explicit teaching of a written argument gives students access to the dominating structure of the genre if they are given the time and tools to reflect and be given feedback from the teacher.

This article is an introductory note to The thematic section in this issue of Education Inquiry has its background in the need for research interpreting literacy from a critical perspective. Teaching literacy is not solely about technical reading skills but is also about understanding and the making of meaning. From that point of view, teaching must also consider the use of language, the context within which language is used, and issues of power. The thematic section includes five articles about critical literacy in Swedish education.

The contributions were developed after a workshop conducted by Professor Hilary Janks, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She introduces the framework of a critical literacy theory in the first article of the issue. Further, the contributions of Swedish scholars are united in their interest in applying a mode of critical literacy designed by Janks to different practices, sites and speech-events, for example policy documents, home reading, teaching and learning practices. The articles offer a wide perspective of critical literacy in education and further understanding of the complex processes in teaching.

The written word ‘surrounds us round the clock’. Consequently, it is difficult to determine the border between children’s school literacy and their vernacular literacy outside school. The aim of this article is therefore to describe some everyday literacy events and their relation to literacy events in grade 5 in school.  The concept literacy covers broader ways of reading and writing and is understood in the social context in which it is used and acquired. Children use different written modes of communication outside school, for example, Facebook and blogs, but seldom books. In school, on the other hand, they usually write with a pen and read books made of paper. The children’s vernacular literacy practices and school literacy practices meet during school breaks, where students’ texting and typing are visible. The different use of modes, tools and literacy events among students are something that probably should be problematized and discussed within schools with the aim of drawing on everyday practices to enhance educational development.

I denna artikel sätts elvaåriga barns varierande användning av skrift i fokus. Syftet är att beskriva och reflektera över barns vardagliga skrifthändelser och i vilken mån de förekommer i skolans skriftpraktik. Inledningsvis redovisas skriftbruk ur ett teoretiskt perspektiv följt av ett metodavsnitt. Därefter följer en presentation av barnens vardagliga skriftbruk och vissa utvalda händelser i skolans skriftpraktik. Artikeln avslutas med en reflektion över elevernas vardagliga skriftpraktik och skolans skriftpraktik.

Artikeln beskriver och utreder skillnader och likheter mellan kursplan i svenska och kursplan i svenska som andraspråk i Lpo 94 och Lgr 11. Svenska som andraspråk var ett nytt grundskoleämne i Lpo 94 och det var därmed viktigt att ämnet var tydligt framskrivet så att det inte skulle kunna förväxlas med grundskoleämnet svenska. I Lgr 11 har svenska och svenska som andraspråk närmat sig varandra.

Beskrivning och analys av språkutvecklande arbetssätt i grundskolan där estetiska uttryckssätt stärker elevernas språklärande.