One good example of critical literacies pedagogy in action is a middle school program entitled “Crit Lit for Kids: From Critical Consciousness to Service Learning." This program has students read a variety of texts on social issues including equity, diversity, and so on, and then design a service-learning project that addresses the social issue presented in the text. This, of course, extends beyond reading simple comprehension. Students are encouraged to look beyond the text, question some assumptions presented, and think more critically. Literacy is not just the process by which one reads words on a page; it is the process by which a social learner attempts to make sense of the messages being presented in a text.

Perhaps one of the main strengths of critical literacy is that it helps students become active thinkers and not just passive learners. It helps them connect their studies to real-life issues. However, critical literacy is also one of the biggest challenges a teacher may face. It requires skill and time on the part of a teacher to create a critical learning environment for the students. Also, when using critical literacy strategies in classroom teaching, teachers are very cautious about topics. Moreover, critical literacy focuses more on critical thinking and reflection, and in this approach to teaching and learning, technical requirements like grammar and vocabulary may be ignored.

When contrasted with this style of instruction for functional literacy, it can be said that while some similarities can be pointed out, some areas remain different. Functional literacy, unlike this style, which goes beyond memorization, focuses on the practical learning that individuals can apply in everyday situations or for immediate purposes, such as filling out forms or reading signs. Critical literacy, on the other hand, helps individuals go beyond merely questioning what they read and what happens in society, allowing them to comprehend the true nature of things and their role in it. Functional literacy helps an individual learn to use literacy, while critical literacy helps an individual learn to think critically.

Example of Critical Literacies Pedagogy in Practice