Literacy in Our Classrooms

It is estimated that about 99% of America is literate. That seems like a lot. But, if we look at that 1% who are not literate, it actually equals 3 million people. In 1993, a study was done by the National Center of Education Statistics which took over 5 years to complete. The study concluded that 21% to 23% of Americans were unable to find material while reading text, were unable to make inferences from what was being read, and were unable to integrate pieces of information while they were being read. In other words, many people were unable to understand what they were reading.

This places great value on literacy in the classroom and how we are teaching students to read and write. As a recent graduate of a teaching certification program, literacy is a passion of mine and I would like to share what I have gleaned from my studies and practicum in sharing literacy with students in the classroom.

Value each student as a reader: Each student is a reader. Encourage all progress and push them higher, while valuing the small gains. Students know when they are valued.

Explore reading and writing alongside your students: In the classroom, we have an opportunity to model reading and writing alongside our students. Be passionate about it. Share what you have been reading or writing with your students. Write with them.

Encourage community in the classroom: Create a classroom where students can feel safe to read and write, where students can work together.

Read Aloud and Write Aloud: At all ages! All students can gain from hearing oral language. It is a great model for sentence structure, writing styles, and new vocabulary. Writing aloud in front of students on a marker board or smart board helps them with language as well.

Supply the class library with excellent literature: No one likes stale popcorn. Keep current in what kids are reading-classic literature and new literature. Provide a variety of styles, genres, and levels so all students can find a perfect book.

Encourage discussion, comparison, and inquiry: Allow time for students to respond to literature orally and through writing. They need time to talk about it. Encourage them to make connections to their own lives or to another book they have read.

Embrace responses in all forms: Sometimes a response to a book can be an art project such as a painting; a re-enactment through drama or a skit; a mask of a character; etc.

Literacy is interwoven throughout a child's day at school. As educators, let's look for opportunities to help our students to not only succeed, but also to find enjoyment in literacy.

Sources: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs93/93275.pdf