Literacy According to Megan

During the past week, I have written my initial definition of literacy. I have constructed a list, although incomplete, of all of the different ways I believe myself to be literate. I then looked further into literacy by reading my classmates interpretations. Even further, I read the essay by Gee who constructed a whole social system to literacy.

When I began, I was confident in my personal understanding and definition of literacy and what it means to be literate. Each time I read another perspective, I reconsidered my thoughts, and I found my own understanding of what it means to be literate changing.

All consideration included, literacy has several components: reading, writing, comprehension, relatability, and social appropriateness. The social aspect of being literate demonstrates comprehension.

Gee's definition is centered around a person's “identity kit”. The kit being tools that you begin collecting in your home (primary discourse) and continue acquiring subconsciously (secondary discourses) through social interactions throughout your life. Gee asserts that people associate “language” with “grammar” and that simply perfecting the grammar does not mean that you will know how to use the language. He says that saying the right thing at the right time in the right place in the right way is the important part of literacy. It is functional literacy.

This understanding of literacy is far from the grammar and English education texts in which I found my self completing exercise after exercise throughout elementary and high school. Throughout my education, I've never been forced to examine that in order to demonstrate your literacy you will need to be a social chameleon.

What I am most interested in is how we (most of the population) come to know these social rules. Gee says that they cannot be learned in schools, but rather must be acquired naturally and subconsciously. If this is true, how did I come to know that I should dress up for a job interview? How did I come to know that I should shake the interviewer's hand? That I should sit up straight, speak with my best grammar, thank them at the end, and even send them a thank you letter afterward? How did I come to know that it was okay to speak to my friends in a different way than my employer? How did I inherently know that it was best not to say all of the thoughts that run through my head? And when I become a teacher, if these are all things that I cannot teach my students, should I expect them to already know these social requirements, or should I excuse their behavior thinking that perhaps they haven't “acquired” this knowledge yet?

The questions are endless. It is for this reason, that I have decided that although it is a very important aspect of applying literacy to the world, demonstration of literacy in social ways will not be part of my definition.

I am choosing to simplify what it means to be literate.

The Definitions according to Megan Eaton are:

         Literacy: the quality or state of being literate.

         Literate: the ability to read and write competently.

I believe that being able to read and write at a level appropriate for age gives one all of the prerequisite tools needed to jump aboard Gee's definition of acquiring secondary discourses. I agree with him completely that the application and demonstration of literacy in social aspects is what is most important in our lives. However, at the most basic state, being literate is your understanding and knowledge of a language. That therefore, makes grammar important, and my years of English, reading and literature classes worthwhile.

In summary, being literate (competently reading and writing a language), does not guarantee the ability to demonstrate that understanding of this language. The demonstration and social application is although important, a separate matter from being literate.

D2L Post #2

I successfully found definitions for Literacy entwined throughout the internet. Three definitions that grasped my attention were from Wikipedia, Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Definition from Wikipedia:
Literacy has been described as the ability to read for knowledge and write coherently and think critically about the written word. Literacy can also include the ability to understand all forms of communication. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy)

Definition from Merriam Webster:
Literacy: the quality or state of being literate (http://www.merriam webster.com/dictionary/literacy)
Literate: able to read and write (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literate)

Definition from the National Center for Education Statistics:

http://nces.ed.gov/naal/fr_definition.asp

After reading several definitions, two ideas were repeated throughout: the ability to read and write. The definition Wikipedia stipulated that the reading and writing must be done coherently, while the actual dictionary definition from Merriam Webster did not place such a stipulation. The definition I agree with most comes from the National Center for Education Statistics. It says that to be literate, one must possess skills (reading and writing) and be able to use those skills (applying them in various settings). 

My original definition of literacy was:  the understanding of a language and the ability to communicate effectively using that language. I stick behind that definition and believe it coincides with the definition from NCES with the need to have the skills and the ability to use them.  If I were to alter my definition, I would try to include the importance of the application of literacy being adaptable in various situations an individual encounters while the knowledge is constant. For example, I apply my understanding of the written and spoken word differently in my various peer groups. I will speak and relate to different people in different ways, but the knowledge and understanding is the same regardless of how I choose to convey that in different circumstances. 

Is the concept of literacy meant to be so complex? Or is it actually simple? Can we define literacy the way Merriam Webster defines it? [Able to Read and Write]? Is that enough?

Literacy--Yes, It's That Important.

     Literacy has always meant the understanding of a language and the ability to communicate effectively using that language.  I have never expanded my thinking to include different "languages" that aren't traditional such as English or Spanish or Chinese etc.  Thinking of being literate in texting, cooking, ,martial arts, parenting, etc. creates a window that broadens my thinking beyond belief.  Literacy can in fact be as narrow or broad as we choose to think. There is seemingly infinite possibilities of things in which to be come literate. 

    My goal is to hopefully have a more concrete understanding of what literacy means and can mean to different people.  I also hope to be able to teach others to be literate in our primary language of English in my future.  Being able to communicate your thoughts and feelings in ways that others can understand is of utmost importance. It is the most important step on a students path of learning. It fosters not only learning in educational settings but also the strength of inner personal relationships and therefore self confidence.  I believe that a person who cannot effectively communicate, which is what literacy means to me, will not be a fulfilled person. I think being able to communicate is socially and psychologically important. I think that it comes in on the bottom tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, not too far from clothing, food and shelter.

                                 

Yes, I think it is that important.  Take a look at the graduation rate of Milwaukee's public schools today.  It is horrible. We are failing today's youth. These students are lacking the literacy skills they need in order to be successful in their daily lives.  This includes but is not limited to their academic studies.  These individuals are unable to satisfy their other needs at the very bottom of the hierarchy of needs, making it impossible to achieve well in school.  However take a look at their parents, guardians or their general environment, and you will see significant holes in the literacy of these as well, thus making it a circular trap. I believe literacy is the key to braking the chain, and I am excited to learn how to possibly provide access to that key.