In my philosophy of literacy, I believe that all work must have purpose, and this purpose must be communicated to and understood by the students. My passion for providing students with a purpose and understanding of why what their doing in school is supplemented by giving student work that is meaningful to them. In literacy, specifically in writing and skill building exercises, students can lose motivation or interest if they don’t understand why they’re doing something or why it’s important. By communicating the purpose of writing, students are given agency through which they can communicate their own ideas and understanding that the writing we do in class does not have to be just for the sake of practice. Even literacy basics like letter formation of phonological awareness are taught in ways that help the student understand why what they’re doing has a purpose. I feel that this is a key to all teaching, but specifically in literacy where students may find the work tedious or pointless. 

As teachers, we know just how crucial literacy skills are to surviving in everyday life. Literacy skills at the primary level are the building blocks for so many things, which is why ensuring that our students are capable and developing these skills is so important. Phonetics, sight words, reading comprehension etc. are all key elements to literacy, and the methods that I will use in my classroom are not just activities that the students must complete, but meaningful lessons that help the students understand the purpose of what they are doing. Making learning accessible, meaningful, and hands on for all learners is key to engaging them and ensures their success.