Literacy as a gateway to all learning

The role of literacy as a gateway to all learning and why strong literacy skills are essential for functioning in a contemporary, globalized society. [1]

The term "literacy."

Literacy has traditionally been regarded as having to do with the ability to read and write. Literacy has recently evolved to encompass multidimensional skills such as listening, speaking, viewing, and performing (NGA & CCSSO, 2010) and cultural and societal factors (Snow, 2002) that can facilitate or constrain literacy development. [2]

How do humans learn to read and read to learn?

Reading comprehension includes “the process of simultaneously extracting and constructing meaning through interaction and involvement with written language” (Snow, 2002, xiii), as well as the “capacities, abilities, knowledge, and experiences” one brings to the reading situation. In line with the first part of this definition, it is expected that once children have been taught sounds and letters and how to blend them to decode so that they read text fluently, along with lessons in vocabulary, they will be on the way to successful reading comprehension. Reading instruction in schools focuses so heavily on developing reading comprehension because this ability is the ultimate goal of reading. [3]

Language and thinking processes.

Our linguistic skills help us express thoughts and structure and organize them cohesively. Through language, we categorize information, build mental models, and establish links between concepts. Expressing thoughts verbally can deepen our understanding of complex ideas and aid problem-solving. [4]

Simple to complex.

Basic literacy skills mainly involve applying automatic cognitive processes such as recognizing words and reading fluently; however, intermediate literacy skills involve the application of comprehension strategies that require deliberate cognitive effort. For example, when a student encounters a phrase such as, “the worker’s expression darkened as she considered the potentially devastating impact of the decision she was about to make,” students may read the words automatically; however, to understand the meaning behind the worker’s face darkening requires thinking about what the author means rather than only what the words mean. [5]

Flexible Teacher Thinking.

Disciplinary literacy and culturally responsive teaching rely on teachers being open to perspectives outside their own, being flexible in teaching content, and situating teaching and learning within a social justice framework. By teaching disciplinary literacy strategies, teachers can adjust what they teach and how they teach according to their students' cultural characteristics and funds of knowledge. Learning about students' knowledge and experiences in school is consistent with culturally responsive teaching and socially just educational practices. [6]

Summary Statement

Robust literacy skills are vital for personal empowerment and social and economic development in an interconnected world.

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[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Excerpts From

Steps to Success: Crossing the Bridge Between Literacy Research and Practice

Edited by Kristen A. Munger

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