Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Important part of literacy
I think the idea of literacy is so multi-faceted that it's tough to say what is the most important aspect. Traditionally we think of literacy as the ability to read and write. However, it also incorporates listening, comprehending, communicating, and so on. So i think all of these ideas are dependent on one another.
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Although I do agree that all aspects of literacy are significant, I think that understanding and comprehention is the most important. I think that if you read something like an article in the newspaper and when you are done are lost, then you have not comprehended what you have just read and that is a problem. Anyone can read something and then answer a few questions like on standardized tests or homework assignments, but to actually describe what you read in your own words and give meaning to what was read is a whole different concept. So, even though writing, listening, speaking, and reading are very valuable aspects of literacy, I feel that if you do not understand what you have just read then you have learned and accomplished nothing.
I somewhat agree with all aspects of literacy being dependent of eachother to a certain extent, but I think comprehension would be the most important. Without comprehension, no other aspects of literacy will come to play. If a student can read and cannot comprehend what has been read, there lies a problem. Comprehension is not only cruelly important for reading but also very important in all other aspects of literacy such listening, speaking, and writing.
I definitely agree with the idea that comprehension is the most important aspect of literacy. After all, what exactly is the point of reading something if you don't understand what you're reading? Speaking is important, too, but not as important. Think of it this way:
You are driving and see a red hexagonal sign with the letters STOP on it. You read it and say to yourself, "Stop," but keep on driving. THAT IS NOT GOOD!! You need to understand and apply what you read!
OK, but then what does it look like in a classroom? How do you teach to all of those things -- or do you focus on one or another above all? Does the equal rating of all of the components in your mind mean that all information must be presented in writing, orally, and visually for example?
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