Literacy for Children in an Information Age

Cohen & Cowen

Chapter 1

A New Definition of Literacy

Literacy: 3 Questions

• What is Literacy?

• What are the different approaches to teaching literacy?

• How can you integrate technology into a literacy classroom?

Defining Literacy

• State & National Standards• Visual Literacy• Higher Order Thinking Skills • Technological Literacy• Global Literacy

Higher Order Thinking Skills

1. Recall

2. Comprehension

3. Application

4. Analysis

5. Synthesis

6. Evaluation

Approaches to Teaching Literacy

1. Bottom-up Approach

2. Top-Down Approach

3. Basal Series

4. Balanced Approach

English Language Learners (ELLs)

1. oral practice 2. tutoring & individual

support3. native language 4. Individual differences

count!5. Constant assessment6. Home-school

connection

Special Education

• Inclusion (45%)*

• Dyslexia (more than 50%)*

• (of all special ed students)

NRP Findings*

1. Phonemic awareness

2. Phonics

3. Fluency

4. Vocabulary

5. Text Comprehension

*National Review Panel

Five Other Pillars

1. Classroom organization

2. Matching pupils and texts

3. Choice, interest & collaboration

4. Daily reading & writing across curriculum

5. Expert tutoring

Bottom-Up Approach

• Decoding (Phonic approach)

/k/

C - a - t

cat

The cat is small.

Top-Down Approach

“Whole language”– begins with text

comprehension– children learn to read

by reading and enjoying text

– predictable books– discussions– demonstrations

Bottom-Up …. Top-Down

• Decoding • Vocabulary• Sentence

Comprehension• Paragraph

Comprehension• Text Comprehension

• Text Comprehension• Paragraph

Comprehension• Sentence

Comprehension• Vocabulary• Decoding

Basal Series

• Comprehension Reading Program

• Contains texts for all grade levels

• Anthology

• Teacher’s Guide

• Daily lesson Plans

• All support materials

Balanced Literacy Approach

• All aspects of literacy taught in the classroom, centered on student needs, and using research and practice:

• Reading…writing…speaking…listening and viewing

• (Language Arts)

Website Evaluation*

1. Ease of use

2. Visual layout

3. Readability

4. Accuracy

5. Links--valuable?

*Evaluation Form p. 28-29

Two Valuable Resources

• IRA– International Reading Association

• NCTE– National Council of Teachers of English

Textbook Website

• http://www.thomsonedu.com/education/cohen*

• Back cover

Technology

• Incorporate into Literacy Classroom

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Evaluate Internet Websites

1. Is literacy promoted?

2. Is the site age appropriate?

3. Does it reflect current research?

4. Are additional literacy resources available?

And finally ….

Definition of literacy includes:

• Changing profile of students

• Technological and global impact

• Latest research

• National standards

• Higher Order thinking skills