Early experiences with books and print is what allows children to acquire concepts that form the bridge to later reading and writing. There are seven concepts about literacy that build the child's foundation for future learning.
1. Reading is fun.
2. Toddlers and parents discover ways of interacting effectively while reading.
3. Language is an important part of reading books.
As a toddler's language develops, so does her reading and writing.
4. Books are handled in special ways - you look at them, turn pages .. and read
5. Literacy involves symbols.
At first, children treat books as objects.
Gradually, they learn to look at pictures in books as representations rather than just colors,
shapes and lines.
6. Books communicate a meaning - they tell a message.
7. Literacy comes from social interaction embedded in cultural practices.
What does this mean to us as educators?
We must recognize that children come to school with multiple literacies - incl. abilities to communicate through speaking, listening, watching, drawing and , yes, clicking! Children have different concepts about literacy as they learned from home/community. To be effective we must expect and appreciate childrens different styles of engaging in reading and writing. If a child comes to school knowing how to type their name on a keyboard, recognize that for value in the emergent literacy of the child and tap into this connection, rather than discounting it with preconceived, perhaps prejudiced, notions. Accept childrens diverse capabilities with eyes wide open.
About Me
- Tina Taupenot
- I teach second grade at Rock View Elementary School in Kensington. This is my second year there and my 17th year teaching.
Tina,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the multiple literacy section of this chapter. I thought all of the ideas it conveyed were developmentally appropriate and important factors to keep in mind as teachers. In our fast paced society, and assessment driven education system, it can be easy to overlook simple signs of a literacy development.
I loved the example you mentioned, referred to in the book about the proud parent of a child who could type their name. Although it may not be conventional paper and pencil writing, it still provides the teacher with valuable knowledge. Typing your name on the computer takes a variety of skills to accomplish. These skills include identifying letters of the alphabet in connection with the keyboard, and recognizing the importance of order of these letters in regard to your name. It would be possible to transfer what you know the student can do on their own based on this information, to build upon the necessary steps to write their name on paper. Perhaps the teacher could integrate the technological aspect of typing to practicing the letters of the child’s name on paper. After all, it is important to understand our children’s abilities, or their zone of proximal development and build, or scaffold, off of these schemas.
I thought the information about the multiple literacies was especially interesting. If we take a closer look at students’ work, we can begin to gather a better understanding of literacy development and capabilities. As educators, it is essential to remember these aspects of literacy development to gain a more insightful look into our learners through a study of oral language (speaking), listening, watching, drawing, and clicking.