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To me, being literate in the Digital age means knowing how to access information, understanding the information, asking questions about the information read/listened to, and knowing how to apply essential 21st learning skills (i.e. problem-solving) so that one can continue to learn and grow. As a kindergarten teacher, I do feel that technology plays an important role in education; however, I also feel that it must be used purposefully and as enrichment to the learning that occurs in whole-group and individualized small group instruction. The technology that I use for students at the kindergarten level focuses on phonemic awareness and phonics (i.e. PA/Phonics apps on the ipad/Reading A-Z/audio books).
The image that I chose is of a student connecting to what she is reading and also forming questions as she reads.

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Literacy is the ability to read and write, typically in a shared language. Today, the definition of literacy has expanded to also included digital literacy. I think to be a literate person in today's society means to have decoding skills in text, as well as symbols and images. Ultimately, I think the function of literacy is communication and/or expression. Today, a literate person has a larger toolbox to achieve that goal.

A literate person navigates through a variety of forms of communication on a regular basis.

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A person that is literate is someone who can read and write.  However, I think it should be extended to being able to comprehend and critically think about what is read. Taking the information in and communicating it is also a part of being literate.  Some who is literate is able to question ideas and form their own thoughts on them.  I chose the picture below because it shows how we can communicate and share information with others around the world.

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When I am with my students and I explain literate vs illiterate, I describe it just how it is. The ability or inability to read/write. When I think about this now that I am an adult, I think about all of the ways that we show being literate in our technological world today. We have to take in information from a variety of different venues, face to face, phone calls, social media, books, etc. Once we take in this information, we have to process and respond to the information given to us. With so many different ways to get information I feel like many times this challenges our own thinking and requires us to open our minds more.

I chose this picture as it shows people receiving information and then talking through it. It shows that we are connected through technology and group dynamics.

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Many of the adults I work with identify themselves as illiterate. To them, this means that they feel unable to help their children with their homework, filling out job applications requires help, and books are non-existent in their household.  To me, a literate person is someone who views reading as a positive experience verses a unsurpassable burden.  I don't know if it would necessarily mean that you "love" books, but you know how to accurately navigate the world that is so closely tied to the ability to read.

I chose this picture because it demonstrates how interconnected literacy is within our current culture.

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I believe being a "literate" person involves much more than just the ability to read.  Literacy absolutely begins with the skills necessary to break down texts and decode.  From there, being literate, to me, means being able to take those words in a text and expand your own thinking - ask questions, challenge thoughts or statements, find counter-arguments, change your own thinking/beliefs, grow one's imagination.  These skills enhance our ability to learn, relate to others, develop arguments rooted in fact and data, and listen to counter arguments that may not be in alignment with our own beliefs, but may have the power to change the way we think.  Based on these components, I would consider myself a moderately literate person.  I say thins because I do not diversify the topics of which I read very well.  I also require multiple read in order to fully process for deep understanding.
My image was selected because I believe much of what we do in schools sets the foundation for our youth to go on to become life-long learners.

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I believe that being a literate person means that the person is not only able to read and write to a level that they can sustain their life (e.g. being able to read if something is poison so they don't consume it) but that they can read what society produces and critically think about what is being said and contribute their own thoughts and opinions in a productive manner.. For example, being able to discern reliable sources of information or understanding what an image is really trying to say about the world at large. They have the ability to really read and understand the larger world they live in.

This image represents literacy by demonstrating how all the various forms of literacy is important to sustain life and to help society grow

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Being a literate person to me has to do with absorbing information, reflecting on that information, and communicating about that information in some way. Being literate doesn't solely mean being able to read. It is a whole system the brings the person into a full circle. It is about learning ways to analyze and interpret information that is in front of them.

I chose this picture because the literacy process takes more than just yourself. It takes many people in that person's life to help them be successful. Support is key for success.

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The ILA defines literate as "able to read, write and communicate in one's native language or multiple languages". I would add that being literate is the ability to communicate ideas and opinions through the written word and to interpret, question and analyze others' ideas.

This image represents being literate because people who analyze, question and critique are able to decide their own beliefs.  When we have strong beliefs that are backed with evidence, we can effectively communicate.

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To me being a literate person is someone who does not only understand others but can also convey their own thoughts. Reading is obviously a big component of literacy, but having the ability to listen to others and learn about their experiences with text can open up a new door to your interpretation of said text. This can connect with Allington's T's of Teaching and Talk. Teaching does not only come from us as teachers, but from anyone who is willing to share their thoughts and communicate with one another.

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Even though people come form different walks of life, a literate person is able to communicate their thoughts over a subject, and may have a joyful discussion.

Disney, W., Sharpsteen, B., Luske, H. S., Blanc, M., Brodie, D., Catlett, W., Darlington, M., Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (Firm). (2009). Pinocchio. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

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A literate person has the multifaceted ability to utilize written, oral, and technological language to learn, communicate, connect, and thrive in society. He/she seeks knowledge, truth, humor, and meaning from text (any form). A literate person understands the power of words.
My image represents the power of literacy and literate people collaborating and embracing learning together. It models communication and learning potentials without boundaries.

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Literate is defined as a persone who can read and write. For me it is not just an skill to do, but an ability that opens doors.  The reader/writer can also process the information and understand it.

The image I am including represents how being literate can open up learning to any desire.

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I believe that being a "literate" person means that you are able to unlock meaning in the world around you. If you are literate you can access the information you need to accomplish your goals, complete tasks or to get your needs met. The image I am including shows the magic that happens when one becomes literate and it shows a book but I include any medium in my definition of what it is to be a literate person.

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I think being a literate person is broader than our typical thinking of the definition that reflects being able to read and write. Literacy is the understanding of something that can be represented in various forms, such as tactile, visual, social, etc, and the ability to communicate about that understanding.

This image represents people being literate because they are able to read a book, understand, and conduct a discussion about what they've read. Reading social cues are also necessary in holding a productive book talk.

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To be a literate person begins with having the ability to read, write, and communicate.  The image shows that out of these skills grows an unlimited potential of abilities.

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My original thought on literacy was tied to understanding - understanding a text, understanding social cues, understanding a piece of art, understanding how to navigate the subway system. But reading Allington evoked an emotional response that I was not expecting. I felt empowered. So now I have changed my thinking; to me, literacy is an understanding that fosters empowerment.

This image represents people being empowered because they possess a deep understanding (all brought to you by literacy!)

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I think a literate person is one who is a critical thinker. They gather information from various and trusted sources, such as print, online, talks/speeches,and personal experiences.  They analyze, question, and evaluate that information to make an informed thought, opinion, or decision. A literate person also knows that knowledge can be conveyed not just though writing, but through speaking, both in the formal and informal sense and through the arts.

My image I chose makes me think of all the various ways a literate person gathers information to form thought.

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Literacy is the ability to comprehend and interpret information, through reading, viewing, or listening to language in books, blogs, videos, podcasts, etcetera. It is not enough simply to have the ability to understand the language, a person must be able to interpret that information and recognize the context in which it was created and the audience for which it was intended.

The image here is a reminder that critical thinking is an important part of literacy.

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When I think of a literate person I think of someone who is able to read a variety of texts for a variety of purposes. A literate person can read for pleasure, to gain knowledge, to connect with others,or for the purpose of carrying out a task. A literate person is able to interact with the text both internally, externally. Literacy sometimes involves wading through difficult text types or structures to make meaning. A literate person can make meaningful connections to a text, and in turn can communicate meaning to others either in conversation or in actions. Being a literate person links us together academically, socially, and professionally.

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My definition of literacy has changed over the span of my 20 year career in education. The ability to read and write was surely my definition at the start of my career. My work with diverse populations of students, coupled with raising the oldest  of our three children, who has autism, has certainly enhanced that basic definition. This child could navigate a computer at age three exponentially better than I at age 33. He was 3 plus years behind his peers in first grade verbally, but could understand picture symbols instantly. Lastly, and not entirely related to my previous words, literacy also involves the need/desire/enjoyment of printed language--whether visually, auditorily, or in tactile form.

This picture shows a child reading braille--one of many forms of literacy

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A person who is "literate" would be someone who is able to interact with   language in any form. There are many different ways that a person can interact with language and many different forms that language can take. These areas of language and the formats that they present are open to interpretation.

My image represents a literate person interacting with different areas of literacy.

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In a literal sense being literate means having the ability to read and write. However in our society being literate takes on a bigger more complex definition. To be literate a person needs to be able to read, write and comprehend what is in front of them. This might mean the person is reading a text from a friend, or writing a dissertation, no matter the complexity the person must be able to adapt their word choices, and reading strategies to the appropriate manner for each situation.

My image represents a literate person as it has word representations for many of the areas a person needs to be able to relate to or understand in our society if they want to be literate.

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Being a literate person means that one can independently interpret text and communicate one's own thoughts. When a person reads he/she processes the information through their own personal lens; however the more he/she reads the more that lens opens up to new ideas and experiences and that leads to changes in thinking. Being able to open up to express one's own feelings and ideas is very important in today's society.

My image represents an individual with literate abilities sharing and communicating his knowledge with another fellow student.

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Something that I have been reflecting on recently is not only what does it mean to be a literate person, but why is it important to be a literate person? I think these two questions go hand-in-hand. In my opinion, to be a literate person means to be able to take in and process information critically, and then be able to articulate your beliefs and ideas in such a way that others will listen and be able to understand. I think it is important to be a literate person because literacy allows for independence: literate people don't have to rely on what others tell them is true. They can think and express ideas for themselves.

My image represents a literate person because they are thinking for themselves, as opposed to following the rest of the group.

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Being a “literate individual” means to be able to come to an understanding of other perspectives and cultures. A “literate individual” will encounter perspectives and ways of life that are different from their own through reading, writing and listening and they are able to work and communicate effectively with peers of diverse backgrounds through the reading of multicultural literature. Hence what the picture below is trying to demonstrate.

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It is very difficult to define what a “literate person” is by simply saying that if he/she is able to read and write he/she is literate. Being able to read and write is necessary but it is much more than just that. For me the meaning of a “literate person” means being able to navigate successfully with his or her surroundings to make meaning of society and the world around them. Being “literate” also has to do a lot with who you are as a person and your background. People learn things through different mediums therefore they learn to be “literate” to different types of literacies. There are many forms of literacies that may not be recognized and valued enough. Sometimes as teachers we focus on academic literacies and base that on whether an individual is literate or not. However, many people are grounded on other literacies such as music, art, fashion, athletics, etc. Some of these things I am unfamiliar with, does that mean I’m illiterate?

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Literacy is how we communicate and defining it in a person is therefore subjective to the content. We often speak of it as pertaining to the ability to read and write, yet it adapts with our modern society as typing, media literacy or it can adapt to subject area. Someone can be literate in law, or other subjects, or in program use such as Excel or Google apps. As we develop more methods of communication, all will pertain to literacy.

I have attached this image of a person typing because that is a very prevalent form of communication in our modern world. It is currently how we are learning, but we use it to relate through email or online text and social media.

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To be a literate person means to function in society. This includes read and writing text in multiple formats, and it extends to being a thoughtful, logical person who understands the impact their actions, broadly defined, have on other people, society, the environment, and the world at large.

My image represents a person being literate because it appears she is reading a digital text on her phone and considering its ramifications.