An example of critical literacies pedagogy in practice is the "Youth Participatory Action Research" (YPAR) project implemented in a U.S. high school English classroom. In this initiative, students investigated social issues directly impacting their communities, such as racism, housing insecurity, and gun violence. They conducted interviews, analyzed media portrayals, collected data, and presented their findings using digital storytelling and other multimedia formats. The teacher acted as a facilitator, encouraging students to question dominant narratives and use literacy as a tool for advocacy and social change. This example illustrates the core of critical literacies pedagogy: viewing reading and writing not just as technical skills, but as ways to understand, critique, and transform the world.

One major strength of this approach is that it empowers students to become active participants in their own learning. It develops critical thinking, collaboration, and civic engagement while making literacy instruction culturally relevant and socially meaningful. However, it also presents some challenges. It can be time-consuming, difficult to assess through standard tests, and may overwhelm students who lack foundational literacy skills. The success of such pedagogy heavily relies on the teacher’s ability to scaffold learning and create a safe, inclusive environment for dialogue.

When compared to functional literacy pedagogy, key differences emerge. Functional literacy emphasizes reading and writing for everyday tasks, job readiness, and fluency. It is more teacher-directed and skill-based, focusing on accuracy and efficiency. In contrast, critical literacy is student-centered, inquiry-driven, and encourages learners to question power relations and societal structures. Despite these differences, both share the goal of improving literacy and can complement one another. Functional literacy builds the foundational skills necessary to engage in critical literacy, while critical literacy adds depth and social awareness to traditional literacy practices. Together, they offer a more comprehensive and transformative approach to education.