Reading-strategies Discussion

Written Literacy

·    Written literacy has been institutionalized into three categories that develop through authentic practice         and not through a drilled program.

1.   Structure or grammar

2.   Mechanics or spelling and punctuation

3.   Usage or conventions of writing

·     Written literacy is expressive.

·     Written literacy is communicative.

·     Written literacy develops in cognitive steps by reading, talking, and listening all of which grow from               thinking.

·     Written literacy stems from the concrete base to more complex and abstract procedures.

·     Written literacy creates a relationship between the user, the audience, and the purpose.

Developing written literacy is a process. Jean Piaget described the stages as each more complex than the previous as the capacities consolidate O’beirne & Milner, 2012.

Oral Literacy

·     Foundations of oral language literacy are grounded by age four.

·     Oral language ability can be attributed to factors such as children’s experiences in the home and socioeconomic status.

·     Amount of exposure to language.

1.   The number of words exposed to a child.

2.   The quality of the language spoken to the child.

·     Exposure to print

1.   Print concepts

2.   Familiarity with sound and letter

·     Amount of background knowledge

Aside from these aspect of oral language literacy there are other factors which influence the development of a student’s oral literacy including “educational history, cultural and social background, length of exposure to the English language, and access to appropriate and effective instruction” Brooke, Critical Role of Oral Language.

Visual Literacy

·     Visual literacy leads to oral and written literacy.

·     Visual literacy is an Interpretation of a written text.

·     Visual literacy creates memory.

·     Visual literacy is an understanding of perception.

·     Visual literacy is necessary in today’s technological age.

·     Visual literacy leads to higher thinking skills.

“Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be read and that meaning can be communicated…” Baker, 2012.