https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54 This is a timeline of literacy over time. From the earliest forms of symbolic representation through current times. en-us 2023-06-14 14:17:49 UTC 2023-06-20 23:38:01 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4da.png kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623510837 The origins of literacy can be traced back to South Mesopotamia around 3,000 BC. Ancient Sumerians began writing on clay "tablets" and invented the script known as cuneiform, the first known writing system. Though this early writing was composed of fairly simple symbols, it laid the foundation for full scripts and modern language. ]]> 2023-06-14 14:29:40 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623510837 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623517065 The earliest people communicated with others through art within the walls of caves. Though it's not written records, archaeologists, historians, and scholars have attempted to understand the inspirations behind cave art, but it can be assumed that these images must have held great importance given the time, and been some form of communication with others. ]]> 2023-06-14 14:37:05 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623517065 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623524211 In addition to the Ancient Sumerians, Egyptians were also said to be one of the first to develop symbols called hieroglyphs. Both civilizations with earliest coherent texts from about 2600 BCE.]]> 2023-06-14 14:44:53 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623524211 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623528656 The Phoenician Alphabet was a writing system that developed out of symbols, inspired by the Sumerians and Egyptians.  It was developed out of the North Semitic alphabet and was spread over the Mediterranean area by Phoenician traders and is possibly the ancestor of the Greek Alphabet, and hence, all of the Western Alphabets. ]]> 2023-06-14 14:50:20 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623528656 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623533383 The Latin script is a true alphabet which originated between 1,000-700 BC in Italy and has continuously changed over the last 2500 years. Some of these letters are still used today, especially in sororities and fraternities in the United States. To write, there were many mediums used such as stone, tile, wood, and horns. ]]> 2023-06-14 14:55:37 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623533383 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623550448 During the 1300's, printing on cloth was common, and by the 1400's, printing on paper became a common practice as well. Reading was primarily used for religious purposes. Literacy rates were below 20%, and the ability to read was almost exclusive to the upper class- royalty, nobles, knights and clergy. During this time though, there was a textbook known as the "primer", or book of prayer and religious instruction for students of all ages, well known to everyone and it was composed of mostly religious documents, such as the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and a few Psalms. The book was created to provide material necessary for a "religious experience" and was not intended for reading. ]]> 2023-06-14 15:16:24 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623550448 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623567547 The ABC was another book intended for religious purposes. It was NOT a schoolbook, it was a manual of church services. In the 15th century, the Enschude Abecedarium was created with the intention of teaching children how to read. It included the alphabet, the Pater Noster, the Ave Maria, the Credo, and two prayers. It was the first book that was meant to teach reading in the form of the Christian religion.]]> 2023-06-14 15:38:28 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623567547 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623577529 Studies revealed that literacy rates rose from 11% in 1500 to 60% in 1750 (mostly in males- the literacy rate in females during this time was more than likely much, much less). Children learned to read so they could solidify their religious faith. "Hornbooks" were a popular way of learning to read. Children learned one letter at a time and couldn't move onto the next letter until the one prior was mastered. ]]> 2023-06-14 15:52:19 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623577529 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623581522 During this time, literacy started veering away from religion. Spelling at this point, was considered the foundation of reading. Signature literacy was a universal way to assess literacy in the "new world" (now the United States). In 1829 learning the alphabet was viewed ats being the most important first step to learning to read. Additionally, students were mostly judged on oratorical reading during this time period. McGuffey's Readers were being used in 1836. William Holmes McGuffey created a series of readers that included 55 to 85 lessons each. They were widely used during this time period. The books included stories from many genres.]]> 2023-06-14 15:58:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2623581522 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628463622 Grubb, F. W. (1990). Growth of Literacy in Colonial America: Longitudinal Patterns, Economic Models, and the Direction of Future Research. Social Science History, 14(4), 451–482. https://doi.org/10.2307/1171328

OUPblog. (2011, September 19). Back to school specialpart 2: Early literacy data. OUPblog. https://blog.oup.com/2011/09/literacy-data/#:~:text=The%20Census%20Bureau%20first%20reported,fell%20slightly%20to%2089.8%20percent.

Brinkley, S. G. (1957). Growth of School Attendance and Literacy in the United States since 1840. The Journal of Experimental Education, 26(1), 51–66. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20154063

Cave art: Discovering prehistoric humans through pictures. NEH. (n.d.). https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/cave-art-discovering-prehistoric-humans-through-pictures

Teachout, T., By, Teachout, T., Stewart, B., Stewart, B., Boot, M., Boot, M., Morris, B., & Morris, B. (2015, September 8). How the Second World War Made America literate. Commentary Magazine. https://www.commentary.org/articles/terry-teachout/how-the-second-world-war-made-america-literate/ 

]]> 2023-06-20 21:42:09 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628463622 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628468329 The influence of the times took a shift from industrial to wanting a more educated society, as a whole. The Census Bureau first reported literacy data on reading and writing in 1840. At the time, 91.5 percent of the adult white population (over the age of 20) were literate. In 1850, the white literate population fell slightly to 89.8 percent.  These literacy rates appear to be closely linked with school attendance rates during that time. Oral reading was still the main focus. John Russell Webb (1846): He published the primer "The New World Method". He also coined the term "silent reading" and implemented it into the classrooms.]]> 2023-06-20 21:53:35 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628468329 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628484925 Books that we know and love today, such as Moby-Dick, The Scarlet Letter, Little Women, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Poems by Emily Dickenson, etc. were written and published during this time. In schools, graded series of readers were published by Worcester, McGuffey, Swan, Russell, Tower, Sanders, etc. Content veered away from strictly religion and patriotism to history, art, politics, etc. Culture was very relevant in reading instruction during this time period. Rebecca Pollard (1889) created Pollard's Synthetic Method. This method considered children's interests and maturity versus just the age. In addition, she geared instruction from teacher's point of view and geared instruction to student interests. Edward G. Ward (1894) was one of the authors who tried to integrate phonics with the word method.]]> 2023-06-20 22:42:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628484925 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628492176 During this time, reading research is beginning but it is mostly done in labs and isn't actually beneficial for teachers. Schools began being seen as places where students not just learn to read, but actually enjoy and appreciate good literature. The first standardized tests measured speed and comprehension in 1905- silent reading and reading for meaning within schools was becoming more popular. It was believed that we comprehend and read faster when we read silently. Between 1935 and 1950, "reading clinics" started in schools to aid students that needed more help in reading. This is when we actually began seeing reading "specialists" within the educational setting. People began listening to radios- which raised questions of literacy (will people prefer radios over reading?- digital literacy began?) During World War II, there was less teachers and research as people's energies and focuses were on the war. ]]> 2023-06-20 23:02:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628492176 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628496180 Cultural diversity is beginning to be recognized within the educational setting, however, multicultural books were not yet created or published (not often, anyway). Leveled readers and professional development was given to teachers to aid students and begin differentiating instruction. Reading disabilities became more of a focus as research continued, and diverse needs were beginning to be met within the classroom setting. ]]> 2023-06-20 23:14:00 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628496180 kewilliam https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628499390 The MacMillan Reading Program (1960's) an emphasis was placed on higher order thinking and critical reading. The internet was born on January 1st, 1983 and shifted education in the United States, and the world, forever. In the 90's, computers and the internet were put into schools and opened a new "digital world" to students- today, students are more digitally literate than ever. In addition, in terms of literacy, we place a big emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary instruction, and standardized testing within classrooms today. ]]> 2023-06-20 23:22:12 UTC https://padlet.com/kewilliam/p54w8lfb54kupe54/wish/2628499390