Rainbow reading: Planning to teach queer fiction in secondary English in Queensland.

Overview

In Queensland, lists of texts prescribed for use in high school English are used in conjunction with other curriculum documents to shape the content of study in senior English subjects. Prescribed text lists contain varied representations of what counts as notable and important enough to be worthy of recommendation for use with young adult learners, and research suggests that LGBTIQ+ subjectivities are seldom represented in the current lists. Previous VRES projects involving the review of such texts have uncovered difficulties that teachers may face when planning to use queer texts with teenagers. Further research that involves teachers and students in appraising the benefits and challenges of books foregrounding queer characters and experiences is needed.

Research engagement

This research will involve conducting a practitioner inquiry. This will include reading novels and watching films that feature LGBTIQ+ characters, making reading notes, and analysing representations. It will also involve keeping a field journal to support a practitioner inquiry into possible teaching concerns, practices and resources.

Research activities

You will read/view 1-3 books/films and produce reading notes using a supplied note-making guide. You will choose one of these texts to You will meet twice with the research team to share notes and collaborate on analysis of representations and themes.

Research skills

From this experience you can expect to learn or improve your skills in curriculum literacy, literary analysis, and data analysis using spreadsheets and basic coding techniques. You will learn to keep a field diary to support a practitioner inquiry.

Outcomes

The aim is to include pre-service English teachers in evaluating young adult literature that deals with difficult topics for use with secondary students.  The expected outcomes are a set of coded reading notes for use in future research, and a co-authored publication of short reviews for the ETAQ professional journal 'Words'Worth' with advice for teachers about teaching selected novels and films.

Skills and experience

The student must be enrolled in an Education degree. This can be any Education degree (Early Childhood, Primary, or Secondary).

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

The research will primarily be conducted at the students' own preferred location, with four Zoom meetings included.

Additional information

Books to be read will be available for loan if you do not already own them or wish to purchase them.

Keywords

• queer
• education
• LGBTIQ
• literature
• teaching

Contact

Kelli McGraw

31388777

kelli.mcgraw@qut.edu.au