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Literacies today are a way of conveying meaning. This meaning can be represented in words, symbols, sounds or visuals. The meaning of literacies may differ from person to person based on contextual cues, personal biases, cultural differences and more. In the classroom setting, students can translate meanings from one medium to another, such as reading to art, or music to drama.
- Jessica, Victoria, Khadijah and William

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Harste identifies language as not only spelling, grammar, reading, and phonetics, but art and music as well. Integrating this view in the classroom allows students to cover a wider variety of language and art as an ensemble. Dwyer's article focuses on the significance of global perspectives to further understand cultural traditions and diverse perspectives in relation to literature. -Alissa, Jillian, Janelle, Jaden, Evan

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Harste identifies language as not only spelling, grammar, reading, and phonetics, but art and music as well. Integrating this view in the classroom allows students to cover a wider variety of language and art as an ensemble. Dwyer's article focuses on the significance of global perspectives to further understand cultural traditions and diverse perspectives in relation to literature. -Alissa, Jillian, Janelle, Jaden, Evan

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Based on the readings by Harste (2014) and Dwyer (2016), our group's ideas on what counts as literacy in a junior classroom includes a variety of productive conversations across multiple subjects. This does not necessarily pertain to solely Language Arts, rather a broader spectrum of learning (i.e., arts, dance, drama, and so on).

A literacy educator's understanding of literacies matter because we live in an ever-changing world that requires educators to constantly improve their teaching methods to reflect what is happening currently in the word. Overall, this supports students in developing knowledge and an appreciation for learning.

- Jill, Kaelan, Mario, and Jenna

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Within a junior classroom, what our group found counted as literacy based on both readings included balancing traditional ideas like reading and writing with new innovations like technology and social media, not only learning about other cultures, but experiencing other cultures, learning best practices for social media/internet and understanding arts (music, art, emotions) can be universal when language isn’t enough.

An educator’s understanding of multiple literacies can ensure they are able to make connections for students for where they are knowledgeable and bridge the gap where they are not.
- Hisham, Marshall, Zacchaeus and Rory

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Literacy is an all encompassing method of learning. Literacies involve language, music, arts, and movement of the physical body. Literacy today is a form of expression both of ideas and of personal feelings and beliefs. It is valuable for a teacher to understand literacies because they have a part in every topic. It is important to understand how these literacies can be used to make connections between subjects and students experiences outside the classroom.

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Literacy is an all encompassing method of learning. Literacies involve language, music, arts, and movement of the physical body. Literacy today is a form of expression both of ideas and of personal feelings and beliefs. It is valuable for a teacher to understand literacies because they have a part in every topic. It is important to understand how these literacies can be used to make connections between subjects and students experiences outside the classroom.

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- James, Noah, Jocelynn

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One of the most important ideas from the Dwyer article is that literacy includes the ability to identify, interpret, and communicate, across many different disciplines in any context . However, implementing these concepts in a teachable manner can be difficult depending on the age group of students. In a junior setting, exposure to critically thinking about these core competencies of literacy should be implemented into every subject. 

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One of the most important ideas from the Dwyer article is that literacy includes the ability to identify, interpret, and communicate, across many different disciplines in any context . However, implementing these concepts in a teachable manner can be difficult depending on the age group of students. In a junior setting, exposure to critically thinking about these core competencies of literacy should be implemented into every subject. 

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- Matthew, Dylan, Lauren, Nicholas

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Literacy is not something you have or don't have. It's the ability share thoughts, feelings, and ideas with others both verbally,  written and through art.  It is deeply influenced by many socio-cultural factors.  It is also a way to allow a community to communicate with one another without barriers.  It allows people to contribute to society and learn about others and themselves.  It helps to create a global community because we can understand different cultures and experiences.

-Laura, Katie, Shane, Lisa

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Junior literacy today is providing students with the fundamental skills of reading and writing but also encourages them to extrapolate the meaning of the words and apply it to their reality, and listen to the realities of their peers (despite not having the same experiences). Harste notes the importance of reading and writing, but also includes social practices as a key component to literacy. We think it's crucial for today's students to be able to think critically about information they consume and understand how it may be affecting them, others, or our global society as a whole. Providing students with additional outlets to express their feelings and visually show their understanding provides an additional method for them to create meaning and help others understand what may be difficult to articulate. Dwyer's focus on the importance of digital literacy and an ability to communicate through medias beyond text is also important to consider as we teach young people. With rapid advancements in digital tech and new communication platforms popping up all the time, our students will face new challenges to communicate meaningfully in more ways than just text on a page. These media outlets may even open up a new global understanding across cultures and languages that would otherwise be guarded by language barriers. We also believe that the use of transmediation helps support a culture of empathy across the world. Information that may be susceptible to gatekeeping from language, culture differences, or a lack of shared experiences, become easier to understand and relate to when there's another element of media to communicate the meaning.
- Natalie & Emily

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Literacies are ways that we communicate our internal worlds (thoughts, feelings, etc.) to others. They are comprised of any signs and symbols that can be understood by a given culture as having a particular meaning or set of meanings. We are surrounded by media on a daily basis that communicates meaning- the books we read, the movies we watch, the signs we see on the street, all of which are literacies.

-Ryelee, Erika, Astrid, Jenna C.

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Literacy today is a way of displaying understanding and meaning. It encompasses art, music, writing, reading and drama. It is essential to learning as it lengthens students understanding of concepts in everyday life. In this day and age, literacy is becoming more prominent in communicates across cultures and time.

- group 6: mollie, tass, angelika