As we spoke about the first week of class, students are literate in many different ways both inside and out of the classroom. The only valued type of literacy is that of school literacy which, “encompasses those literacy skills that most often lead to success in school” The measures of “success” does not necessarily guarantee success in literacy practices for out of school context. How can we tie in the literacy that students gain in their everyday lives into the work we are doing within the classroom? Students are coming with an arsenal of tools from their own lived experiences, how do we value these experiences and integrate these literacy skills into what dominant society deems as “success”.
Vocabulary and the use of words is important when it comes to traditional ideas of literacy. With different offshoots of English and students coming in with varied levels of english comprehension, how can we teach our students to grow their vocabulary while at the same time being comfortable using their preferred language or dialect.
Being aware of the various forms of literacy is important in providing an environment that is all encompassing and one that provides a space for growth for all students. As educators who have to worry about the success of our students based on standardized tests and unfair practices, how do we both empower our students and give them the tools to be successful in the currently constructed society?
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