Literacy Should Be Taught In Schools Essay

843 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Literacy education philosophy

The most widely known definition of the word “literacy” is the following: the ability to read and write. However, this is a very narrow and inaccurate definition since literacy skills also include the ability to speak and listen in its very wide meaning. Being able to read, write, speak and listen do not mean that one is simply capable of reading a text, speaking with a friend or listening to his answer, it also includes, for instance, having a critical opinion about a text and being able to express it orally or write it, being articulate, speaking in front of a large public with confidence, etc.

Ofted has recently put an emphasis on literacy skills within the curriculum and more particularly across it. This means that literacy should be taught in every subjects present in a school. The reasons for this …show more content…

A few examples of this would be : "speak coherently and confidently", "write prose using an increasingly wide range of grammar and vocabulary" (from the government's Key Stage 3 curriculum).

From what I have seen so far in my first placement school, the main focus related to literacy in the lessons of any subject concerns vocabulary: every lesson has a focus on specific vocabulary related to the subject studied and the teacher always explains its meaning, how to use it and makes sure that the pupils have it written in their books to have the right spelling. I also noticed during my pupil shadow day that, as expected, the focus on literacy was more important in English lessons. Indeed, the teacher asked several times for full sentences from pupils, in their oral speech as well as in their writing. However, it was also the case in a math lesson where they had to answer a math related

Show More
Related

  • Personal Philosophy Of Literacy

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.... Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man,

    Read More

  • Contextualization: The Key to Literacy Education

    428 Words  | 1 Pages

    After reading the essays in Ways of Reading this semester I find validity in the old cliché I still have much to learn. In particular, I thought I knew what major philosophical arguments grounded the field of education however I never realized how many diverse debates are occurring in the field of literacy education. In concluding a theme from the essays, I would suggest a common theme of contextualization and its importance to both writing and education. In Authority and American Usage, David Foster Wallace writes, “you need more than one dialect to get along in school” ( ). Wallace’s quote represents a conclusion of an argument about the role context plays in regards to efficiency with language. In this case Wallace uses the example of a boy who is excellent at rapport with his teachers

    Read More

  • The Crisis in Adolescent Literacy

    2250 Words  | 5 Pages

    Finding a definition of literacy is not as easy as it sounds. The Webster definition says that to be literate is to be” able to read and write.” But to some researchers, this definition is too simplistic, leading to multiple models of literacy. Most Americans adhere to the autonomous model, which falls closest to the standard, dictionary definition. Believers in this form say that literacy is a cognitive activity that students learn like any other basic skill. It has a set of proficiencies that one must master in order to be capable of decoding and encoding text (Alvermann, 2009; SIL International, 1999). A competing theory is the ideological model, which claims literacy is intrinsically linked to culture, and therefore what constitutes a “literate” individual is ever-changing. Society is the largest influence on literacy, according to this thought, and it is affected by politics, religion, philosophy and more (Alvermann, 2009; SIL International, 1999). These two are just the tip of the iceberg. For example, some studies recognize “literacy as competence,” which is a “measure of competence to do a given task or work in a given field,” (SIL International, 1999) such as being computer literate. Although more researchers are recognizing and exploring multiple literacies, the one that most influences American schools is the autonomous, cognitive model – the ability to read and write. For many, it seems a simple task, but millions of adolescents are struggling or reluctant readers, and there are many reasons why young readers have difficulty with reading. XXXXXX------NEED HELP WITH THESIS STATEMENT HERE PLEASE—(This paper will focus on the effects of low reading skills, some of the possible causes of reluctant and struggling readership...

    Read More

  • Essay On Literacy

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    A mere generation ago, literacy was generally focused around solely reading physical materials. Susan Metros emphasizes that most of the teachers employed in schools are from a generation that was largely based around the written word (106). Literacy was a rather simple concept. As Reardon states, “At its simplest, [literacy] is a combination of word reading skills and knowledge-based literacy competencies” (18). To put it simply, if a person could read and understand what he or she was reading, he or she could be considered literate. A wide expanse of knowledge was not required for literacy. The amount and variety of books that a person had read did not dictate that person’s level of literacy. The requirement for literacy was solely that an individual be able to read written texts. At one time, being able to interpret the words on a page was enough. Catlin Tucker asserts that, "Growing up...I knew that people who were literate could read and write, and people who were illiterate could not...Now, as an educator and parent I find myself revisiting this question of what it means to be literate. The definition of literacy is changing. Literacy means something different today than it did 10, 20, or 30 years ago"

    Read More

  • Philosophy Of Literacy Instruction

    1535 Words  | 4 Pages

    Literacy embraces reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Integrating all of these into a literacy program is key. Teachers must provide endless and ongoing opportunities for their student to read, write, listen, and speak.

    Read More

  • Sociodemographic Summary

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    The reason for

    Read More

  • What Is The Importance Of Literacy Essay

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    If I had to chose the most important moment of my literacy development I would easily say it was my sophomore year of high school. I was in Honors World Literature class taught by high school teacher Amy Shaw. The second semester of the year we spent reading and discussing The Iliad. The way Mrs.Shaw taught this book and made us think about it combined with my love of Greek mythology gave me an immediate interest in this unit. However the many epics and epithets took away most of my enthusiasm. Later in the semester, we were each assigned a chapter, or “books” as they were called, to teach to the class. Our teachings had to include a summary of the events of the chapter as well as a list of literary devices used in the literature. So I summarized and annotated my chapter, and I found that I was looking forward to presenting in front of my class, which has definitely never happened before. I realized that because I genuinely

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Literacy

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    Being literate defines who I am, and forms an integral part of my life. From the practical to the creative, it aids, and enables me to perform in the tasks that modern society dictates. I shall explore the many aspects of my life that are affected by literacy. Through this, understanding in greater depth what it means for me, to be literate.

    Read More

  • Balanced Literacy Essay

    1322 Words  | 3 Pages

    Literacy simply means reading, writing, speaking, and listening. There are some purposes of literacy: learn, gain knowledge, communicate, form own opinion, understanding surroundings, experience, and pleasure etc. Balanced literacy seems complicated, but if you break down into each section, it is easier to define it.

    Read More

  • Teaching Literacy

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    Literacy is an on-going skill that teachers and students alike should commonly study and practice in all grades. Problems faced by teachers, especially teachers in higher grades, are not having the skills to be effective teachers of literacy. To effectively teach literacy across content areas, a teacher would need skills such as knowledge of the reading process and the ability to cultivate the knowledge gained in order to make informed decisions within their classrooms (Clary, Oglan, Styslinger,

    Read More

  • What Is Literacy Essay

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    The world around us is constantly changing and technology has a lot of impact on the rapid changes. This is one of the reasons why it is hard to give a specific definition of the word literacy. Literacy can be broken down into two main subcategories: literate and illiterate. One of the main discussions with this is what qualifications or qualities separate someone who is literate from someone who is illiterate. Historians have been researching literacy for the past five decades and have been trying to come up with a fixed definition of the word. To me, literacy is a very complex word as the definition has evolved over time, but in the end it is how one excels in their discourse(s), which have changed throughout the years and helped create their

    Read More

  • Literacy Should Be Required To Vote Essay

    462 Words  | 1 Pages

    There are constitutional requirements for a person to exercise suffrage. Observing at the situation of the nation, literacy should be added as a constitutional requirement for the exercise of suffrage. Through literacy, this can improve the quality and credibility of the election. Literacy means the ability to read and to write.

    Read More

  • Reflective Essay On Literacy

    1088 Words  | 3 Pages

    Literacy, what is it? When this question was asked, my immediate thought was being able to read and write, duh. But as I sat back in my chair and tried to come up with something to say to the class, I realized literacy is not truly defined by that short definition provided when looked up in the dictionary. Literacy has been an important part every civilization, enabling the recording and sharing of history, thoughts, and ideas. It has a place in every aspect of society. From cooking, to science, to religion, literacy knows no bounds. Although literacy is often thought of as the ability to read and write in an academic setting, to me literacy is more beneficial when used outside of an educational context. Literacy in its most significant form is being able to decipher emotions and feelings, finding productive solutions to the problems, and sharing with others.

    Read More

  • Academic Literacy Essay

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    The ability to write well is not a naturally acquired skill; it is usually learned or culturally transmitted as a set of practices in formal instructional settings or other environments. Writing skills must be practiced and learned through experience. Writing also involves composing, which implies the ability either to tell or retell pieces of information in the form of narratives or description, or to transform information into new texts, as in expository or argumentative writing. Perhaps it is best viewed as a continuum of activities that range from the more mechanical or formal aspects of “writing down” on the one end, to the more complex act of composing on the other end (Omaggio Hadley, 1993). It is undoubtedly the act of

    Read More

  • Importance Of Literacy Essay

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    The importance of literacy is how it opens up the world to the reader, or writer. Through literacy, we can shape our thinking on certain topics or create original thought. The vivid detail inside of writing can allow the reader to picture the writing through their own mind without pictures, or any outside help. Malcolm X, who wrote “Literacy Behind Bars”, a literacy narrative about his time in prison, described how the world opened up to him through his readings, and how incredible his life was thereafter through his learning to read and write. Literacy enables you to formulate thought, thus allowing you to formulate opinions about certain social, political, or any other range of topics from an education in literacy.

    Read More

More about Literacy Should Be Taught In Schools Essay

Open Document