- The five elements of literacy are texts, context, function, participants, and motivation. Reading context is incredibly important, as it can greatly affect the reader’s depth and understanding of the text. For example, I read better in quiet and private spaces, such as libraries and cafes. Every week, I go to the library to complete my homework because being in a quiet area with other people doing work as well helps me focus better. If I’m doing homework in my apartment, then it’s difficult for me to understand the readings provided because there are too many distractions.
- Szwed recommends ethnography. He claims that it is the only way to measure levels of literacy, as well as what makes literacy measurable.
- A sociology of pathos means a relationship in which both parties are suffering. When he says this, he means that we must accept people and not force them to do something if they don’t want to to prevent any suffering for both parties. If people don’t want to learn something, they lack motivation, which is an important element of literacy. This will make then learn slower and less effectively.
- From my perspective, Szwed’s method is based more on observation. I would probably analyze how the students learn best and try to cater to them in that way. If some learn more effectively through watching, I would show more videos and share helpful skills. If they learn more effectively through reading and learning as they go along, then I would let them have more independence and then help when they request help.
- The sociocultural perspective of literacy is that literacy changes alongside culture. As cultural aspects progress, so does literacy. The four characteristics of literacy are semiotic, public, transitory, and product-oriented. She suggests we use them because they introduce more flexibility and freedom in writing, making it so that we can write more freely and less restricted.
- Literacy typically relates more to reading and writing, while orality describes talking and verbal aspects.
- Being raised in a more middle-class community, I found that reading and writing were taught at a very young age and that was the norm for the majority of the students. When seeing lower income areas on tv or in person, I noticed that many people would speak differently or have messier handwriting. I believe context contributes to this. They don’t have environments or resources that can assist them as much.
- Literacy standards are assessed nationwide and is the average scores of the country. If an assessment has a major affect on a certain group of students, then it could be biased.
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4 thoughts on “Vera Kam DB 2”
I enjoyed reading your post. I like the way you described Szwed’s method, as I also agree that it is much more observable and understandable. Students may not understand that reading will help them learn as they go, but they just are doing something they enjoy or fall in love with. The environment is also a significant factor, and if they see it in their own homes, people love to read and write. Parent involvement or guardian involvement is essential that presence makes the difference in each individual.
Hi Vera,
Your answer to question 7 was interesting. From someone who’s experienced a life lower than that of a middle class, I can agree with your idea that resources play an essential part in opportunities. This was because, I attended a school where we were limited to resources, books, and sports, etc due to the lack of school funding. What is your idea on orality and literacy in foreign countries, and of immigrants?
Hi Armani,
I attended a school district that was over 70% asian, most of which were first or second generation immigrants. Almost all of my friends’ parents are immigrants from Asia, but I think that immigrating to the US and ending up in the bay area, which is pretty expensive, isn’t a common experience. In terms of teaching orality and literacy, I think that it’s definitely more of a systematic issue with funding and providing resources for lower income areas. I think that in areas where students lack the proper environment to study, there should be more opportunities for them to learn at school or some sort of incentive to promote studying. In order to make changes on a larger scale, though, I do think its up to representatives and higher-ups to provide these incentives to students and faculty.
I agree with your answer to question 4, not everyone can learn in this one general way that we were taught in schools as a kid. Learning has to be catered to how an individual can process information whether it is reading or watching. Some individuals can only learn in a smaller class setting and some individuals can pick up information depending on their interest in the subject matter. I also realized that your post on question 7 was interesting because most of what you learn is usually picked up in “your environment” rather than schools themselves. But the writing issues usually also stem from schools lacking resources to properly teach their students.