Holly Tilley
10/12/10
Literacy Paper
Literacy
What is Literacy?
When I think about the word literacy I used to only think about reading and writing but through my journey in life I have realized it to be much more. It is not just reading from a book but it is being able to read signs, interpret symbols, interact with others; etc. The definition of literacy has evolved from “the ability to read and use printed materials at an extremely basic level” to “using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals and to develop one’s knowledge and potential” (Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003). In order to develop this ability, the NAAL says that one must not only be able to recognize letters and words, but to also make inferences, draw conclusions, understand cause-and-effect relationships, and other higher level skills. The term literacy has also come to take on a more broader meaning, of knowledge, skills and abilities relating to reading, mathematics, science, and much more. So what this really means is that literacy is all around us. It is not just reading and writing. You have to be able to understand/comprehend what you are reading to apply it to your life or a certain situation. Literacy is no longer only the ability to read and write, in a left to right manner for means of successful communications. The world is made up of different symbols that require more complex thinking skills than what your basic reading and writing might need. There is not just one definition for literacy but many.
Literacy in Everyday Skills
Everywhere you look or turn around you are faced with literacy. When you are learning literacy skills, you are learning not just to read, but to think as well. Whether you are at the grocery store, reading prescriptions, reading the menu, reading a map, navigating through the computer, getting a drivers license, job applications, using your cell phone; etc, you are using some level of literacy. So really, literacy is important for everyday survival. Yes, people do get by everyday not being able to do the basic skills but it is a struggle and they are missing out on the world. When you learn and develop literacy skills you are learning to apply knowledge from one area to others. When you learn to recognize cause-and-effect situations in stories then you begin to recognize them in your real life as well. Also, interpreting or finding the purpose of a piece of work helps you to evaluate the purpose of your own life and helps set achievable goals. If people in society do not have these types of higher level literacy skills then they can go through life making the wrong choices because they can’t see the consequences of their actions or they can’t step back and see the big picture.
Literacy is a Discourse
When thinking about literacy the word “discourse” comes to mind. Literacy is a discourse. A discourse is a way of using language to identify oneself “socially.” Each social group has their own discourse. In a particular discourse people act and talk in certain ways so others will recognize. When thinking about the discourses I consider myself to be members, my family and work community stand out the most. I had to learn the language, signs/symbols, tools, etc. of each community to be an active member.
I am more comfortable in my family community so I would consider this to be my primary discourse. Within my family discourse we would consider knowledge to be what we gain and learn from each other. The most important knowledge developed from my family would be “family love”. It operates to cultural rules; committed, unconditional, full and fully returned buy others. Knowledge to us reflects how we were raised and brought up in the south and what our culture expects from us. Yes, we do believe knowledge to be able to read and write but it is not in the front of our minds. We value education and my parents want the best for us but they also want us to be citizens with high morals and values in everyday life. Also within our family you are expected to be knowledgeable of our religion. A person’s character tells a lot about them and it is usually developed through the family. My family taught me how to be the person I am today and developed my character. I am very comfortable within my family discourse because I have been around it my whole life. I know what to expect and how to act with my family.
My secondary discourse would be my work community. Here I do not feel as comfortable as with my family because it is something still new to me and I have to learn a new discourse and it takes a while. At work our knowledge would be based on acquiring skills to teach all learners in our classrooms. Our knowledge is how well we know the subject matter so we can teach our students. In the workplace knowing research based material is also considered knowledge. You have to be able to communicate with each other and discuss topics about your profession to help each other.
I have noticed that being in this discourse age, gender, education, etc. do influence authority and status. The longer you have taught the more pay you receive. When it comes to actual teaching positions; the ones who have been teaching the longest get priority and I have also noticed that they kind of try to run the school. They think they know the best teaching practices but when really the new teachers coming in are more familiar with the new and updated teaching tools. The more experience you have the more voice you have in the matter. Also, the higher education you have allows you to have more of a voice as well and more respect. Higher education also raises your status within the school system at times to lead to higher positions than just teaching. This particular discourse that I am a member of is very political and I am finding that out as I continue in this profession. If I didn’t know how to read between the lines I would be left in the dust.
When you look at the two discourses they are different and each has their own meanings of knowledge. To be able to function in society you have to be part of a discourse and you have to figure out your role so you can participate. You have to know how to act, and use language to fit to discourses, “social network,” or you are not a member. It is all about being able to communicate with one another in life. Communication comes from literacy and you have to be able to know when to use certain communication.
Why is Literacy Important?
So why do I think literacy is so important? Literacy is important for survival. We live in the 21st century now and you have to be able to navigate through this society. Literacy is an essential component in the 21st century in order to succeed in school, career and in basic everyday skills. It can be hazardous to be illiterate in the modern world as literacy increases your knowledge and prepares you for the real world. Everywhere you look you see words and symbols on signs, in training manuals, on buses, in books, etc. If you can’t interpret the meanings or be able to read then you become isolated from society. First of all and foremost literacy is important for learning in schools. Literacy has an impact on an individual’s ability to participate in society and to understand important issues. Second of all technology has taken over our society. Everywhere we turn we are faced with the use of technology, from how we work and communicate to howsome people may shop and pay bills. Individuals need some knowledge in reading, mathematics, and science to be able to understand and participate in economic and social life. Lastly, having a population with strong literacy skills places those people in a better position to meet the social challenges they are being faced with. I have learned that strong literacy skills are linked to better health outcomes for individuals. UNESCO reminds us of the critical role literacy plays, when it declares literacy to be “a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development”(Anglin, 2010). Literacy is the most important quality anyone may possess.
As a teacher what does this all mean for me? I need to make sure to prepare my students to be able to participate and function in the 21st century. There is way more to literacy than just reading and writing and I need to make sure I expose my students to that. The way we read and write are changing so quickly. With all new tools being available now to students for the 21st century, I know that reading books are not the only way to be literate. When I look at my own reading and writing habits over the past few years I notice they have changed dramatically. My own reading/writing life involves much more than just reading books so I need to make sure that I am giving my students the same opportunity/experience as best as I can.
References
Anglin, R. (2010, September 8). Letters to the editor: literacy is a human right. Retrieved
from
National assessment of adult literacy. (2003.). Retrieved from
http://nces.ed.gov/naal/index.asp