Literacy
English 1302
6 Feb 2013
My Definition of Literacy Literacy is a term that can be defined indefinitely by a number of people, depending on their circumstances and situations, but to me it deals with an individual’s ability to read and write, communication, and one’s ability to convey meaning to others. Some words have multiple meanings and what it means to one individual, may not be the case for another person. We define words based on our life experiences and the certain situations that we have undergone. The definitions of words are our own interpretation and that meaning has a special role in our lives. Those words stay with those individuals and act as a guide as they endeavor into the world. Literacy is one of those words that its definition depends on the person. One should know that “there are different literacies associated with different domains of life” (Adkins 22). What may be considered a form of literacy to one may be deemed illiterate to another individual. One of the first things that we, as little children, learned to do at school with our peers and teachers was to read and write. Reading and writing are the fundamentals needed in order to be successful in this world, and they are essentially the gateway to bigger and better things. According to the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), “One of the best predictors of whether a child will function competently in school and go on to contribute actively in our increasingly literate society is the level to which the child progresses in reading and writing.” Reading and writing introduce young minds to a whole new perspective when it comes to language, no matter what language it is. They improve one’s education by providing the basic skills that one will need later on in their academic life. Think about this: what can you really and truly achieve without reading and writing? In my opinion, one can achieve nothing of
6 Feb 2013
My Definition of Literacy Literacy is a term that can be defined indefinitely by a number of people, depending on their circumstances and situations, but to me it deals with an individual’s ability to read and write, communication, and one’s ability to convey meaning to others. Some words have multiple meanings and what it means to one individual, may not be the case for another person. We define words based on our life experiences and the certain situations that we have undergone. The definitions of words are our own interpretation and that meaning has a special role in our lives. Those words stay with those individuals and act as a guide as they endeavor into the world. Literacy is one of those words that its definition depends on the person. One should know that “there are different literacies associated with different domains of life” (Adkins 22). What may be considered a form of literacy to one may be deemed illiterate to another individual. One of the first things that we, as little children, learned to do at school with our peers and teachers was to read and write. Reading and writing are the fundamentals needed in order to be successful in this world, and they are essentially the gateway to bigger and better things. According to the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), “One of the best predictors of whether a child will function competently in school and go on to contribute actively in our increasingly literate society is the level to which the child progresses in reading and writing.” Reading and writing introduce young minds to a whole new perspective when it comes to language, no matter what language it is. They improve one’s education by providing the basic skills that one will need later on in their academic life. Think about this: what can you really and truly achieve without reading and writing? In my opinion, one can achieve nothing of
Cited: Barton, David, and Mary Hamilton. "A Social Theory of Literacy: Practices and Events." Ethnographic Inquiries In Writing. By Tabetha Adkins. Southlake: Fountainhead, 2010. 21-24. Print. Neuman, Susan B., Carol Copple, and Sue Bredekamp. "Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children." (2004): 1-2. Web. 7 Feb. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/courses/rdla155/pdfs/c2s2_5devapprop.pdf>.