Valuing Literacy Essay Example for Free

Valuing Literacy Essay In speaking about the value of literacy in the classroom, it is essential to reflect upon our own personal histories in the classroom setting. Being that my favorite content has been primarily math, it was often difficult for me to be interested in literacy. Language, both spoken and written, did not appeal to me in the same way that math and numbers did. I always found math to be very logical, simple and straight forward, with understandable rules, while language seemed subjective, with rules that alter and change over time. However, even though language was not my favorite subject, it is vital to understand the ways in which people are aided by having a strong command of language. Development The development of the child as one passes through the school system is a constantly shifting and evolving process. I remember listening to bedtime stories as a young child and learning to read, then learning how to spell and write in elementary school and understanding the parts of speech. As I progressed into secondary school, I was expected to organize and refine my writing, developing concepts in depth. It is a natural process for children to start out slow with literacy skills. However, it is important for children to be supported in language acquisition as they grow older, promoting the comprehension of multifaceted ideas (Plaut, 2008). Content There were various methods employed by my parents and teachers to help me to fully understand the content of literacy. When reading with my parents, we took turns reading and pronouncing words. They encouraged me to read to them, just as they were happy to read to me. In elementary school, I received further instruction in grammar and semantics, learning how words worked within sentences, how words were spelled, how to gain meaning from the concepts being communicated. In secondary school, I was encouraged to write essays, to fine tune my organizational skills, and to communicate ideas in a comprehensive and orderly fashion. Experiences In reflecting on how some of my experiences with literacy were helpful or harmful, it is important to note that not all children learn about language in positive ways. Sometimes, the very people who are supposed to be our teachers use language to deflate the self esteem of children. I remember being reprimanded for reading something incorrectly, and the result was that I was less confident the next time. On the other hand, I remember instances of teachers praising my writing and pointing out what worked. I believe that praising the good is often more productive than shaming the mistakes. Social Impact The social impact of literacy is an important element of language acquisition. When family members, teachers, and friends are not highly educated in literacy or do not value language skills, then the result is a social environment which is not adequately supportive (McKenna Robinson, 2009). Social interactions have a way of making or breaking a person, and it is important to recognize the gulf between the expectations of the greater academic society and the reality of one’s social atmosphere. Practice In bringing my own literacy skills to a higher level and moving from being a student to being a teacher, it is highly important for me to be able to be an excellent model of literacy to the students I teach. Although I am focused on being a math teacher, the explanation and understanding of any subject has to be successfully communicated through language (Zwiers, 2007). It is of utmost importance to me and my future students that I be able to support them in polishing their literacy skills. In order to do this, I must focus on my own level of excellence. References McKenna, M. Robinson, R. (2009). Teaching through text: reading and writing in the content areas. Allyn and Bacon. Plaut, S. (2008). The Right to Literacy in Secondary Schools: Creating a Culture of Thinking. Teachers College Press. Zwiers, J. (2007). Building academic language: essential practices for content classrooms. John Wiley and Sons.