literacy

Literacy is a very complex idea with many elements added.  although we may think we have a true grasp of literacy, the concepts of literacy are at many times difficult to pinpoint, and integrate thoughtfully into the classroom environment.  When asked to come up with a definition of literacy, I immediately thought of reading.  Although I know that literacy is not subjected to only reading, my initial thought processes drew me to consider a child reading a book as being literate.  After going through classes that educated me about literacy, I found out that being literate also dealt with fluency in reading and writing, but as we grow as a technological society, literacy also deals with being fluent in the technological world, meaning computers, television, and the radio.  When a child is capable of doing complex tasks while reading and writing, they are considered literate.  Literacy has changed in many ways from what it was once thought of in earlier years.  While literacy used to only entail reading, it now deals with many other aspects of society, such as technology.  The advancement of computers, televisions, etc... have lead children of today to be in need of learning these machines from a young age in order to be able to function in society.  This idea was unheard of only a mere decade ago when computers were starting to become mainstream. 

An idea literacy environment would encompass aesthetically pleasing posters that would catch the children's eyes.  These posters would not only hold words that describe the pictures, but they would teach the children about what happens in everyday life.  An ideal literacy centered environment would place emphasis on reading and writing centers. These centers would be the center of the classroom, and would occur on a daily basis.  Starting off in small groups, the children would read stories and write together.  As the children became more comfortable with each other, joining in large group to discuss their work would occur.  This would promote fluency and literacy skills, because the children are using their communication skills to inform the class of their accomplishments in the centers.  Teachers would stress the importance of reading aloud to the children, and make read aloud a part of every day.  The classroom would also have a quiet reading area, adorned with comfortable pillows to provide an oasis for children to escape to enjoy their favorite books.  According to our book, Literacy for the 21st Century it is also important to include "basal reading programs, literature circles, and workshops" into a successful environment centered on literacy.

Literacy is an important concept when dealing with children in the elementary school levels especially, which is why it's especially detrimental to take the ideas of literacy to heart.