Literacy in all its forms

1. Literacy in all its forms lit·er·a·cy noun 1. the quality or state of being literate, especially the ability to read and write. 2. possession of education: to question someone's literacy. 3. a person's knowledge of a particular subject or field: to acquire computer literacy

2. Quantitative literacy • A person is considered to be literate when they can read at a certain level (i.e., 6th grade.) • Measured by a standardized test

3. Functional literacy • A person is considered literate when they can function within a predetermined context. • Context might include socioeconomics, race, gender, etc.

4. Humanistic Literacy • A person is literate when they become politicized. They are able to manipulate language to assert a self-identity. • Based on the work of Paulo Freire. “Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” 1968

5. What types of literacy affect social studies teachers? • Traditional literacy – reading and writing • Media literacy • Computer literacy http://www.ala.org/ The American Library Association

6. Encourage reading in the social studies classroom • Assign books to go along with the material • Reading aloud strategies – popcorn, reader’s theater • Graphic Organizers • Guided notes • Textbook reading strategies

7. The History of Literacy • Cuneiform • The minstrel – worked in a singing capacity – ballads • Literacy barriers for voting, signing contracts http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/voting_literacy.html

8. vids • http://www.ted.com/talks/natalie_merchant_sings_old_poems_to_life.html • 21st century literacy • (8 min.)