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The deep thinking... Critical literacy is about having our students thinking deeply and questioning things. For example, I want them to question why the author did something in the book, and what a different perspective could be. The texts we read have deeper meanings, and I want my students to see how texts relate to their lives or the world around them. This can also be connected to social justice and power. Thinking deeper and pausing to think about the meaning, power, and issues within texts.

Jess Lawrence

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I liked this image because it makes me think of this idea of time moving forward. When I think of this idea of multiliteracy, I think of this idea of moving with time. As teachers, we need to move with time and whatever is the current “fad,” and trend. Technology is an example that was not used twenty years ago, but is growing faster than I think most can keep up! But with it comes so many more tools and opportunities for our classrooms. We need to ensure we don’t get stuck in ruts and keep moving with time. This allows for diverse learning styles and connects to what the students' daily lives.

Jess Lawrence

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I love this image. I think it captures this idea of multiliteracy fantastically. Time is moving fast, and with that is technology, social media, and more. As teachers, we need to be evolving with time, and keep up to date with our students. I used Podcast, and other current fads with my students last semester and they loved it! I also think twitter chats and using what the students like is a great way to incorporate different genres, as well as staying connected to the world. Technology is not something that we can minimize as it is only growing in the world.
Jess Lawrence

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I felt the grocery connected with the idea of the Sudanese refugees reading as a social practice. They would read the bible at church, where they had literacy practice, but that was not the real purpose of being there together at church. This made me think of the grocery store. Little kids can see the words on the groceries and see the real world connection that literacy has every single day. This image the mother is reading the back of the label, where she can read or show the child with her. It seems like a silly idea, but I believe it shows the real world connections and importance of literacy as a social aspect. We use literacy every single day without even realizing it!

Jessica Lawrence

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“literacy is what people do with reading, writing, and texts in real world contexts and why they do it…”

Literacy as a social practice is an idea that is important as a future teacher. It shows us that literacy is more than just reading and writing. It connects us to ourselves, the people around us, and the world. When I look at this image of kids reading together, I barely see the reading, but I see the relationship between the kids, brought together by reading. Literacy is about what we do with the reading, like sharing it with our friends. I have a book club with my friends, but it is barely about the books. It is mostly used a social gathering to catch up but we use literacy as a way to socialize.

Jessica Lawrence

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As we know, our lives are ever changing around us. The way that my grandparents received information when they were younger is not the same way that my parents received information when they were younger. The way I receive information now is not the same way I received information when I was younger. In the article, " What is Literacy" it states that "multiliteracies is often associated with the term new literacies." We are now in the digital age and many do not come in contact with information that is only in text format. We have to adapt to this and expose our students to not only texts but also digital technologies.

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Change, it is not always a bad thing. As mentioned on page 54 in the article, "What is Literacy" it states that "some literacies become more dominant" and also that "literacy practices change." So many of us get our information from a variety of different means nowadays. Many of us no longer read the newspaper to receive information but rather we are getting this information online from various different websites. As educators, we need to be aware of this change and adapt our teachings appropriately to set our students up for success.
-Jacquelyn Dove

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On page 53 in the "What is Literacy" article it describes illiterate people as someone who is "deficient" in literacy. When I read this, I felt that in many ways it correlates to people being deficient in many other things. For example, having a deficiency or lack of certain vitamins that our bodies need to function properly. I found this to be a useful metaphor comparing a person who is illiterate to having a deficiency. I have never heard it to be described this way and I found it very interesting. - Jacquelyn Dove

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In this article it shows a video of students working together to critically think about a text. The students are drawing conclusions and making connects about the piece that they are reading. The teacher asked them questions to help guide their thinking but did not constrict their thinking. This is important because we want our students to have the ability to draw their own conclusions and not only draw conclusions that we as the teachers "think" that they should.
-Jacquelyn Dove

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Show & Tell: A Video Column / Fostering Critical Thinking About Texts

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Why do you think that? Can you show us where you found the information that helps you draw that conclusion? While Agustin is looking, can everyone else go back into the text to see where that information shows up?"

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Image taken by Andrea Ballinger of The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir by Michael E. Uslan (in Print). 

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My dad reminds me often that he learned to read by reading comic books.  My dad's not Batman, but I did meet the man who bought the rights to Batman.

While a motivation speaker, hosted by Miami University, Michael E. Uslan told his story of how he bought the rights to Batman.  He learned to read, you guessed it, by reading comic books.  His parents were so happy to see him enjoy reading, his dad built book shelves for his comic book collection.

Not only did Uslan read and collect comic books, as an adult he offered comic books as coursework at Indiana University (Uslan,  pp. 105).

Why buy the rights to Batman?

Talk about critical literacy.  Uslan didn't like the way Batman was represented or "scripted" in the TV show.  He didn't like the "man-in-tights" image and the slap stick comedy approach.  Uslan felt that even super heroes have a dark side.  An emotional real human being.  And it seemed fitting since Batman is the only comic super hero that doesn't have mutant or mutated superpowers.

"Life is Not a Comic Book!" ( Uslan, Chapter 14 Title, pp. 131)

He bought the rights ten years before The Batman movie franchise we know today.

Michael E. Uslan (2011) The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir Print Chronical Books LLC.

Literacy as a social practice.   Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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Image taken from a writing prompt on teacherspayteachers.com.  

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What inspires you to write?  Who is the youngest person you know?  Who is the oldest person you know.  The picture represents a writing prompt.  I think it came from Teacherspayteachers.com or superteachers.com.  A 5th grade student with an IEP suggested I offer it with think bubbles.

When teaching and learning online, due to COVID, and even before emergency teaching online, it's common for a teacher to be open to students offering technical or computer advise.  In this case, and as a social practice, students can offer input to a writing prompt and connect to it in new ways.

Especially when the teacher is open to the student involvement and is not afraid to adjust or be flexible.  And takes the time to modify the writing prompt, based on feedback.   Post by Andrea Ballinger

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Many of the scholars Perry names suggest the definition of literacy is “shaped by power”  (pp. 60).  And at best, should be viewed critically.  It’s a means to “empowerment”.  I remember the first time I heard the word “ethnocentrism” in a human geography class.  Perry offers the term “ethnographic” when describing other’s work that has the same theme of power, a significant factor in what is considered literacy.

Specifically describing Brandt’s work and the emphasis on sponsors or agents of a prescribed definition.  And yes, teachers are sponsors to literacy.  The power kind. Especially when we find ourselves teaching for testing.  And we know students struggle with the confines of state testing.  This year, more than ever, I’ve seen students struggle and I swear a bit of it has to do with power.  While 7th and 8th graders, especially 8th graders, maybe even refusing to score well, or just enough to get by.  We know that argumentative or persuasive writing engages students far more than informational writing. Yet it continues to be a significant part of state testing and coursework.

Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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The term multiliteracies was developed by “The New London Group” in an effort to realize literacy in “real world context” (pp. 58).  Multiliteracy is a “mindset” (pp. 59).  Perry describes another author’s take and suggests that “expertise and authority are distributed, which blurs the distinction between teachers and learners” (pp. 59). Unless you think teachers should be the sage on the stage, this is actually wonderful when it occurs.

Especially with ELL, which can help to build trust. I was substitute teaching and a student within an ELL class, wrote La Fiesta on the date line on a worksheet.  I was all wrapped up in making sure he offered a date (i.e. May 19, 2023).  I was a bit nervous anyway.  When I asked him about it, he started to erase it.  I thought, and said “Wait, it’s Friday.  Absolutely, keep it as La Fiesta.”  I told him no need to erase and we both laughed. Oh, and another author goes on to say it’s a “cause for celebration” (pp. 60).

Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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We hear it all the time.  We want students to offer authentic thoughts.  However, we continue to offer content that isn’t really real world.  What is the purpose of learning?  This goes both ways though.  If a student is offered more freedom to respond, sometimes the student is afraid to offer something authentic.  Here’s a few words from Perry’s article:

Authentic

Meaningful

New textual genres

Functional literacy (pp. 63)

Justice

Power

Oppression

Valuable modes (pp. 64)

And when we consider critical literacy, what do we do with the response? Have you ever been part of a group and someone transcribes what each person says or offers to the conversation?  Were your thoughts and words precisely represented?  Or did the transcriber change your words a bit?  Did you feel a bit oppressed?

When I ask 7th and 8th grade students to offer a response, and I write it on the whiteboard, I write it as they told me.  Even if it’s sometimes inappropriate or just the plain truth.  Recently, an ELL student called me out.  I did alter what he said a little bit. And I apologized for it.

Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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Critical Literacy is a lens that empowers readers to think beyond the text and look closely and critically. This image does a great job of depicting the thought process we want our students to having when interacting with a text. We want them to learn to view different perspectives, ask questions, open up discussions, etc. By giving our students the opportunity to question, discuss, talk about changes that need made, etc., we are empowering our students.

Written by: Haley Engel

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This video discusses what critical literacy is and how to achieve it. I love how the speaker talks about how critical literacy is a mindset of curiosity and skepticism. We want to teach our children to question things when they don't feel that they are right and to advocate for others. Critical literacy does not mean having distrust - it means taking a text and thinking deeply about the meaning and message it portrays. The article talks about how through critical literacy, readers discover the meaning and identity behind a text and compare it their own experiences and knowledge. This is where the mindset of critical literacy comes into play. It is important to teach students to use a critical literacy lense and mindset when they come across all forms of texts and literacy.

Written by: Haley Engel

Written by: Haley Engel

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This video discusses the importance of multiliteracy. I really like the visuals that it shows. It talks about how multiliteracy is multicontextual and multicultural. Teaching with a multiliteracy approach takes students background knowledge, perspectives and culture into consideration as well as their preferred forms of expression and communication. Multiliteracy in the classroom creates diverse learning experiences that can be cross curriculuar, engaging for all students, empowerment, and inclusivity.

Written by: Haley Engel

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No conclusion can be made using one source 

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No conclusion can be made using one source 

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No one thinks exactly the same therefore no one person will have the exact same opinions. It it crucial to provide students with books from many different authors - who identify differently. This shines light on the social, emotional, and political world and the different stand points. Connecting social practice, multiliteracies, and critical thinking all together!

Written By Kailee Grimm

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Critical literacy can be defined as a learning approach where students exam and analyze multiple texts to understand the language and the power it holds. It is important to examine multiple texts to analyze the authors purpose and what is true and/or bias about what the author says. Everyday, people complete this process subconsciously by following their "ladder of inference". For example, you're driving in a parking lot and your about to turn into a parking spot but someone comes out of no where and cuts you off and steals your spot. Your brain thinks back on your experiences and comes to the conclusion that the man in the car is not nice and is a bad driver. Although, that is only your perspective of the story. The person who cuts you off comes up to your car and apologizes, he says he was in a rush because his wife is giving birth. This is a second source which forces you to think back and possibly regret your first conclusion. Using this logic while administrating school related concepts to help students be critical consumers and to understand that nothing is bias - even your own thoughts (from time to time).

Written By Kailee Grimm

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Response to Haley's post and the Multiliteracies approach. 

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Response to Haley's post and the Multiliteracies approach. 

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Haley,  Thanks so much for posting the YouTube.com video created by J. Roxanne Young.

Even Perry questioned what multiliteracies might actually mean for we are to  understand it as an approach and not a product (viz. multi-literacies).  I also like the clarity offered while multiliteracies is not to attend to a deficit, such as utilizing differentiation, but  to discover "What are my students trying to show me?" (J. Roxanne Young).

Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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I found this picture and thought it was perfect to share! Multiliteracies emphasizes the real world context in which people practice literacy, and in the likes of literacy as a social practice, literacy is practiced everywhere - on many different walks of life. Therefore, teaching literacy though printed text through mutliple genres (comics, novels, newspaper articles, etc), digitally - through apps, blogs, advertisments and more is the key to mold a classroom around the concept of multiliteracies.

Written By Kailee Grimm

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Multiliteracies goes beyond reading and writing. It reaches multiple modalities and places an emphasis on multiple communication channels. I think this photo captures this perfectly. It goes beyond books, pencils and paper and touches on communication channels like Twitter, email, music, videos, text messages and beyond. By reaching these different communication channels, this form of literacy is more aligned with the real world and what our learners see and interact with in their "day to day" lives. Students are easily able to make connections when learning from a multiliteracy approach.

Written by: Haley Engel

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Teaching using Multiliteracies expands learning through a variety of communicative channels. This video is about Multiliteracies and how to properly implement it into the classroom. At 1:40 a student is introduced who is working to develop his pre-writing skills. Instead of using one technique to achieve this, the teacher extends many channels of learning. The student learns about written word through read-alouds, technology, print noticing around the room and in the hallway, from tracing letters, free reading, and more. All of these strategies benefit the child's learning in different ways.  This same concept is modeled as a older student develops her pre-reading skills at 2:10. It is important to teach literacy and writing using many different modes of learning like this video shows.

Written By Kailee Grimm

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This photo shows how reading and literacy impacts our day to day lives and can help define our beliefs/values. The article talked a lot about how Literacy as a Social Practice is what we DO with literacy. When reading that, I believe it also means what are the immediate and future and outcomes from practicing literacy. As you can see, literacy plays a huge role in our children that will someday be adults. There are many things they will learn to do as they get older as a result of interacting with literacy. For example, bettering our communities by voting, advocating for themselves/others, writing to elected officials, etc. The stance they take when they become adults will come directly from the effect literacy has made on their values and beliefs. I think this also goes hand in hand with Critical Literacies.

Written by: Haley Engel

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Response to Kailee's post on Letter Writing

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Response to Kailee's post on Letter Writing

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Kailee,

Thanks so much for offering this perspective.

Curious to know if the book addresses cursive writing vs. print writing.  Both are depicted on the chalkboard within the image.  Talk about a social practice.  A teacher wrote a note to another, much younger teacher.  The younger teacher admitted that he struggled reading the cursive writing.

Back in the day, when a student had to offer letters in cursive, they had to be precise.  And I didn't really know why.  Recently, I visited the Cincinnati Museum of History and noticed government documents as well as the writing. Precise cursive writing.

Ever watch "Finding Your Roots" on PBS?  Same thing, the cursive hand writing is precise.  As if it was written using a scripted font.  While we know it was written by hand.

Sometimes when I am working with ELL students I see them squint and take time to read the font on their Chromebook screen.  Especially the font that is offered as a script.   And even if just a slight slant or if there isn't enough white space between the line or row of text.

Thanks again for posting and for helping us think about text and how it is offered.  Handwritten or by a machine ( i.e. computer).

Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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The graphic is overdramatized but... you get the idea : ) 

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Letter Writing as a Social Practice: Book

Literacy and language “always comes fully attached to ‘other stuff’: to social relations, cultural models, power and politics, perspectives on experience, values and attitudes, as well as things and places in the world". Therefore when teaching literacy and written word(s) it is important to construct and teach about literacies values in real-life - the social practice. As reading that literacies are associated with different domains of life, relate to power relationships, are historically situated and are constantly changing, I thought about the social concept of letter writing. Letter writing and/or mail is still prevalent today in regards to bills, extended relatives, etc. although texting has taken over as the main form of communication. Teaching students about letter writing v. texting can be very beneficial; helping them understand the different tone you should write in if you were writing to a person in a powerful position (boss, landlord, etc) vs writing to a freind.  If you click on the book I link above you will find it's summary, which talks about the historical perspective of letter writing and crossing formal and informal contexts. This idea helps students understand different ways language is used in the world.

Written by Kailee Grimm

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This TED Talk discusses making a connection with your students. While Rita Pierson doesn't necessarily discuss literacy practices in her speech, I think it still connects to literacy as a social practice. In order for a teacher to create a supportive learning environment for all students, they need to understand their backgrounds and establish a positive classroom community. This environment will then promote engagement and encourages students to share their experiences. Students need to feel comfortable first to be able to share. She also highlights the significance of giving a student a voice, which aligns with literacy as a social practice with the thought of empowering them to express their thoughts and opinions. I believe that creating this environment will allow students to love to learn, which can be used to drive literacy instruction.

Written by: Kristen White

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Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

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In thinking that critical literacy is a way to influence and contribute to the world, I think it is very important to teach diversity early on. Growing up, most of the books I read in school and had access to were not very diverse. Through this, I was unable to learn about other cultures and perspectives. Including diversity allows for students to learn more about their peers with different backgrounds. Rebecca Clark discusses how she wishes there were more books with characters like her when she was a kid. Incorporating these books in the classroom can allow for students of that culture to become excited during the group discussion. They can be the teacher for a moment, and explain their culture with the class. This connects with critical literacy because the more informed students are about other perspectives, they more empathy they will instill. This in turn, allows students to participate in the world in a positive, influential manner.

Written by: Kristen White

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Rebecca Clark: Kids Need Diverse Literacy

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Rebecca Clark speaks about the importance of channeling our imaginations at an early age and believing in endless possibilities. She is the creator of Witty Kids which encourages diverse literacy and teaches children to be creative.

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Response to the Ted Talk "Every kid needs a champion" post. 

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Response to the Ted Talk "Every kid needs a champion" post. 

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Kristen,  Thanks so much for sharing this Ted Talk.  It never gets old!  I saw this Ted Talk at a professional development course on "Developmental Relationships' hosted by the Search Institute.  Just watching and listening to Rita Pierson is inspiring.  While she doesn't mention literacy as a social practice, she sure does advocate for it.  The professional development I attended, offered the same message.  Teachers can help students discover or name their champion by thinking about what person helps ignite or "spark" their learning.

Posted by Andrea Ballinger

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In your hands, youth development research can advance equity and help all young people thrive. Practical solutions to help youth succeed wherever they are. Put our research to work with these practical solutions so that you can help all young people become their best selves. Professional…

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Please sign/write to include your name to each Padlet you post.  Right?  Otherwise we cannot know who wrote what.  Truly, Andrea Ballinger

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Please sign/write to include your name to each Padlet you post.  Right?  Otherwise we cannot know who wrote what.  Truly, Andrea Ballinger

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The concept of Multiliteracies expands the traditional notion of literacy as reading and writing, but integrates multimodal learning into instruction. This year I have been incorporating virtual field trips into my instruction, and the impact on student engagement has been great! They extend beyond reading a book aloud to the class. This multimodal resource, in particular, includes information about the author and includes activities related to comprehension skills, such as sequencing. The activities are engaging, while still being educational. This virtual field trip, centered around Pete the Cat, serves as an excellent example. but the possibilities are endless. I have utilized virtual field trips for topics like a haunted house during Halloween discussions and a fire station as a part of our Community Helpers lesson. The incorporation of virtual field trips within multiliteracies instruction opens up exciting avenues for immersive learning experiences.

Written by: Kristen White

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Virtual field trips are the perfect addition to your curriculum! Each Virtual Field Trip includes interactive Google Slides with a school bus transporting you to each stop, a map that shows the route and has check marks as you move through the activities, as well as a break for each activity to work on the corresponding workbook pages. There is also a PDF of workbook pages that you can pick and choose from to suit the needs of your students and your classroom. Your students can work on a packet as you move through the field trip, or you can delete the work break slides and just use the virtual activities included!

Virtual Field Trip Activities:

-Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes

-All About James Dean

-Directed Drawing

-Shoe Sequencing

-Cause & Effect

-Pete the Cat Rocking In My School Shoes

-Includes Text Connections & Comprehension Activities

-BONUS: Free Pete the Cat Reading Room

-PDF of Workbook Pages Match Each Stop

If you're like me and love to switch things up and incorporate technology into your classroom, but sometimes run out of time to create something interactive, here is everything you need for a fun, engaging and curriculum directed virtual field trip! Don't forget to check out my other virtual field trips available or the GROWING VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP BUNDLE!
-Back to School Jitters Virtual Field Trip -Dr. Seuss Virtual Field Trip -Eric Carle Virtual Field Trip -Kevin Henkes Virtual Field Trip -Laura Numeroff Virtual Field Trip -Mo Willems Virtual Field Trip -Pete the Cat Virtual Field Trip -The Pout Pout Fish Virtual Field Trip -Where the Wild Things Are Virtual Field Trip
If you see any problems, have comments or suggestions, please email me before leaving negative feedback! Check out my Link Tree to connect with me and share teaching ideas. Thank you and happy teaching! - Leigh

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Virtual field trips are the perfect addition to your curriculum! Each Virtual Field Trip includes interactive Google Slides with a school bus transporting you to each stop, a map that shows the route and has check marks as you move through the activities, as well as a break for each activity to work...

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Video: Critical Literacy: Children as Changemakers  in their Worlds

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Video: Critical Literacy: Children as Changemakers  in their Worlds

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Critical literacy is a great way to teach students about social justice issues. It allows students to develop empathy on a subject that they might not have a lot of knowledge of. In this video, students were involved in different engaging activities related to a topic surrounding social justice and power. They expressed their understanding through different mediums by creating posters, and clay sculptures. One student even created a board game. The video also explored the topic of kindness. They explored books that emphasized the meaning of kindness and engaged in discussions on how to be kind and why a student may be a bully. Listening to the students engage in this conversation was very inspiring. I wanted to learn how to approach this topic in my teaching next year, and I found this video to be very helpful.

Written by: Kristen White

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Video: Getting Started with Literature Circles

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Video: Getting Started with Literature Circles

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Literature circles are an example of Literacy as a Social Practice, where students actively engage in meaningful dialogue, listen to others' perspectives, and view literature as a social activity. Literature circles encourage students to connect with one another and view literacy as an important part of their everyday lives. They provide a platform for students to not only explore texts but also discuss what the text means to themselves and their peers. By learning from the text and each other, they can find a deeper understanding of the reading. This video offers a structured guide on how to facilitate the implementation of literature circles to promote effective learning in literacy.

Written by: Kristen White

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Jacquelyn Dove: Video: Sociocultural influences and understandings in literacy teacher education

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Jacquelyn Dove: Video: Sociocultural influences and understandings in literacy teacher education

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This video does a great job of clearly defining sociocultural literacy, connecting it to what teacher can do with this theory, thoughts that preservice teachers had on the use of sociocultural literacy, and defines 5 categories teachers can use to help guide their teaching. This connects to the reading because it defines what sociocultural literacy is and how it can be used in the classroom.
- Jacquelyn Dove

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Sociocultural influences and understandings in literacy teacher education