Guofang Li, an associate professor of second language and literacy education at Michigan State University's College of Education, was awarded the Edward Fry Book Award at the National Reading Conference (NRC) in Los Angeles on Dec. 1.

Li won the award for her book "Culturally Contested Pedagogy: Battles of Literacy and Schooling between Mainstream Teachers and Asian Immigrant Parents," which documents the battles between two white teachers and eight Chinese immigrant parents over different beliefs about literacy education.

            Her book reveals disturbing cultural conflicts and power struggles between mainstream schools and middle- and upper-class Chinese immigrant families.   The subjects of the book demonstrate that many white, middle-class teachers believe that student-centered and meaning-based teaching is the most effective approach, while many Chinese immigrant parents believe that teacher-centered, skill-focused teaching is better.

            Li's book, one of 27 entered, was chosen for meeting the award's criteria, including advancing knowledge about literacy, displaying inquiry into literacy, and showing responsible intellectual risk-taking.   The award is presented annually to authors of books on literacy who are members of the NRC.

            Li researches Asian immigrant children's literacy issues, Asian children's social processes of learning, and cultural conflicts between Asian immigrant parents and American schools.