An entire section of a paper I co-wrote last semester was dedicated to ICTs and how the definition of literacy is changing. Literacy used to refer to the ability to read and write, and though the more current definition still envelops that old one, we now (and for a while) have literacy connected to technology. Students (and teachers) not only need to learn to read from left to right, but they need to read webpages that are multi-layered and filled with hyperlinks. Reading these can be like reading the mind of the creator.
My concern is that literacy has become synonymous with reading education. While this may be true (in part) at the elementary level, it is certainly not the case once students begin moving from teacher to teacher (usually around middle school). At middle and high school levels teachers are more apt to say that teaching reading should be left to English teachers. Mt. Blue is in the throes of a literacy initiative that started this year. The goal is to hold all teachers accountable for the literacy of our students. Actually, the accountability isn’t really here yet, but the message is out that we all need to start making sure our students are being engaged with literacy strategies.
The product software noted on page 70 is interesting, and I’ve noted the mention of ReadWriteThink as I sometimes use this resource. Others are worthwhile as well.
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I love the sites that were mentioned in class. The hungry caterpillar is one of Anders' favorites (like he can have a favorite already). I may use these sites with my creative writing class next year. I'm thinking we may write children's books.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Meadow. Writing children's books is such a powerful tool. We have 7th graders publish a picture book and spend one day traveling to classrooms and reading the text to kids at my elementary school. It is one of the most popular days of the school year.
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