1. According to Szwed the 5 elements of literacy are Text, Context, Function, Participants, and Motivation. Motivation refers to the reason why people read, some examples that Szwed gives are nostalgia, ambition, and boredom. Motivation is also affected by context, function, and text.
2. The method of studying literacy that Szwed recommends is a method where everyone knows what the language looks like, be able to describe it, and measure it. At the same time, it also needs to have a meaning for its users and know how it is used.
3. Szwed is stating that we must not stick to or consider 100% true only the lives of people since reading and writing can have consequences that can be affected by many factors such as family life, work patterns, and economic condition.
4. I would take Szwed’s advice that ” the focus should be on the school and its relation to the community’s need and wishes, on the school’s knowledge and of this needs and wishes, and the community’s resources”. By knowing all these things a method of teaching can be introduced.
5. According to Baker “sociological perspective examines literacy as an artifact of culture” the four characteristics of literacy that baker suggests we use are, Semiotic, Public, Transitory, and Product Oriented. all four characteristics are connected to each other, on the other hand, literacy is shaped by cultures.
6. Literacy is the ability to read and write, while Orality describes the verbal medium used by cultures with little or no exposure to writing.
7. Literacy practices are shaped by what we are taught in schools and the general belief of people that surround us. Szwed mentions that “The capacity to read and write is casually associated with earning a living, achieving, expanded horizons of personal enlightenment and enjoyment”
8. Literacy standards are created by cultures, Baker writes that in the 1600s “Europe and The United States literacy involved mastering a range of religious texts. if you could orally read those texts then you were considered literate”.
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I agree with you that literacy practices are shaped by what we’re taught in schools and the beliefs around us. I think it definitely influences our own motivation, as you were talking about, to have people around us expecting a certain literacy and success from us. This could be more motivating or defeating.
I am wondering more specifically how you would connect the community’s needs and wants to the way you would teach. I am thinking that it could have to do with actually getting out and volunteering in settings the involve literacy like even going to other schools and having what they would call “reading buddies” for the younger kids.
I would say that Szwed is more focusing on the way of understanding literacy based on observation and the observers understanding the meaning more than the actual participants.