Teaching Literacy

How do we teach literacy? It is not a subject in school (to my knowledge). I haven't heard anyone say, "I've got literacy fourth period". So how does one learn it? Gee asserts that it cannot be learned, but only acquired.  I want to take a further look at this. 

Literacy needs to be acquired in bits and pieces over time. In school through classes and books we learn the elements of literacy. Generally one learns in a natural building block progression.
1. Alphabet
2. Words
3. Reading
4. Writing
5. Grammar

We begin teaching children the alphabet in early childhood, some even from the day of birth.  Children then learn phonics--sounds that make up words, and then words. Words make up sentences which make up books that children learn how to read. Alongside reading is writing. Children learn to write the alphabet, then words, then sentences, and pretty soon, they are learning grammar.
Grammar are the rules words and sentences follow in our language.

All of this learning says nothing of the socialization aspect that Gee discussed.  How do we know how to behave in relation to one another?  Can these rules be learned?

One thing is for certain, we are facing an achievement problem in our country's schools, primarily in urban areas.  White and middle class students are doing much better in school, and are graduating at much higher rates than their lower class and minority classmates.  These students simply aren't performing well.  Are our schools failing our students? Is this the fault of the faculty? Or is this the result of a less than desired home life?

If it can be assumed that students are performing poorly because they are having literacy issues-understanding the language being used (whether that be the language of science, mathematics, or another subject), then the source of the problem needs to be identified.

First off, I believe that children will do well if they can. It is hardwired into us to perform, to do well, to achieve, so when one has the resources and abilities, they will do well. That being said, there are two options. 

1. The teachers are poor.  This could be because they don't care or because they themselves are poorly educated and unprepared to teach.
(Students could learn the elements of literacy if the teachers were able to teach them.)

2. The parents are poor. This could be because they don't care or because they themselves are uneducated, overwhelmed, and unprepared to parent. The social surroundings do not foster learning and the atmosphere in which these children are immersed is one of slang, swearing, and improper grammar. 
(Children would learn the foundation of literacy if the parents themselves were literate and showed their children how to read, write, and interact by doing it themselves.)

I am sure that some teachers are just bad.  It will happen that some teachers just don't have the passion and just don't care about all of their students, especially the student's who cause trouble.  However, I think that a majority of teachers out there do care and are committed to their students. Face it, teaching isn't an easy job. It can be exceptionally rewarding, but it is rarely financially rewarding.  People do not enter the workforce as a teacher to be 'rolling in the money'.  It is a job of hard work, passion and dedication. 

Does that mean that all parents of poorly performing students are to blame? No. Furthermore, does that mean that after all I do agree with Gee? Literacy for all practical purposes needs to be acquired? Not necessarily.

I've come to believe that in the area of literacy, in any subject area is a partnership. Children are born into this world and it is the responsibility of parents to guide their child through the world and give them the greatest chance of success that they know how.  If all works out in this area, the child will show up at school with a head start. 

These children will be faster to read well, write well, and will already have many of the tools for the "identity kits" that Gee discusses to be able to act appropriately in a variety of social settings. 

The children who for whatever reason show up at school and do not already have these skills should be treated as a blank slate rather than as behind or disadvantaged. 

Perhaps there should not be expectations placed on these youngsters before school begins (usually age 5).  Basics of literacy and social expectations should and could be taught by teachers, but it seems to be the expectation that those skills are learned at home before school even begins.

I do not know how to achieve this, but the clear solution not only to literacy issues in general, but to the entire achievement gap is to strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers. Both have the tools needed to teach literacy, and if the work is split up, and chilren are exposed to aspects of literacy at home and at school, the results should be great.

Now, how do we get all parents to work with teachers?