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last.updated 1.29.06

 

Why Do We Teach Literacy?

Purpose

In the language arts class, students usually learn about literacy and literature; in today's class we will focus on the former. It is a commonplace that individuals need to be literate to function, let alone be successful, in America. Thus one of the major tenets of the language arts class is to develop students' literacy skills. Rather than basing our pedagogy upon a popular movement, it is to our advantage to establish what it really means to be literate and examine how individuals on the "margins of literacy" actually function.

Before Class

  • Read Dornan et al, "Psycholinguistics and Social Foundation" (11-30) [BB]
  • Read Weinstein-Shr, "From Mountain-Tops to City Streets" (49-83) [BB]
  • Submit PAB entry #1 in the body of an email through Blackboard by the beginning of class
  • Submit a request for the Pedagogical Presentation dates in the body of an email through Blackboard by the beginning of class. Choose two dates and justify why these dates are most appropriate for your presentation.

Discussion–Dornan et al.

  • What questions do you have about the Dornan et al. chapter?
  • What are the different types of literacy that Dornan et al. define? According to these authors, what does it mean to be" illiterate"?
  • Which literacies do you think are the most important for an individual living in America to have? why?
  • How do these discussions of literacy "talk to" Bartholomae's and Elbow's respective discussions on academic discourse?

Discussion–Weinstein-Shr

  • What questions do you have about the Weinstein-Shr article?
  • What is Weinstein-Shr's argument?
  • How did Weinstein-Shr conduct her research? What questions or concerns do you have about this process?
  • Were the participants in Weinstein-Shr's study literate or illiterate? explain. Which one(s) did you find successful? why?
  • Which literacies (based upon the ones listed in Dornan et al.) are the most important to teach in the language arts classroom? why? appropriate to teach? why?
  • How would you incorporate these literacies into the language arts class (Feel free to draw upon Dornan et al's pedagogical suggestions or to develop your own)?

Activity–From Theory to Practice

Among Flower & Hayes, Bartholomae, and Elbow, choose the theorist(s) that you pedagogically agree with the most. You will all be divided into groups of three based upon these decisions. In these groups...

  • expand upon the list of practical advice, if applicable
  • choose an activity, an assignment, or a unit and the pedagogical goals for it (i.e., what will your students learn about writing by doing this?)
  • outline what the students are to do to achieve this goal
  • explain how this outline is supported by the theorist(s) that you have chosen to align yourselves with; reference passages and page numbers. You can draw upon other theorists as well.
  • explain the political nature of your pedagogy.

At the end of class, you will share your work and submit it for a process grade.