Literacy Theories and Models

1. April Scott Fishing example on p. 10 Theory”clear basis for making…decisions”/”investigations” Conflicting theories problematic (obstacle) “Without theory, facts remain a clutter of disorganized specks on the canvas, unconnected spots that form no picture of how and why children grow up as they do” (T&M, p. 3) “the important question is not whether a teacher has a theory of learning, but, rather, how tenable it is” (T&M, p. 5) Purposes for practitioners and/versus researchers Prior to this week’s readings, I hadn’t fully grasped the political/social nature of how we define literacy, e.g., only saw its simplistic functional nature Literacy Theories and Models Theories about what is literacy Gee: Sociolinguistic connection—”different is not deficit” (Week 1 book chapter) “Wider and more humane concepts of mastery and its connections to gatekeeping” VALUE/CONTEXT-Related/Specific/Social ? “functional”/individual/”adaptive” Scribner: Question is not so much what is literacy, but “what is ideal literacy in our society” “Empowering…” “Literacy is simultaneously:” “self-enhancing” So in Scribner and Gee, what role would EOG tests play, e.g., maximal vs minimal and if minimal, what can we do to maximize and EOG’s role in gatekeeping? “Maximal obj…; minimal standard as indicators…taking-off point”