The Language of Possibility
Posted by Lindsay Jagodowski on Sunday, April 3, 2011
The following post is transferred from a prior journal entry: February 2011.
Two weeks of snow! I am amazed at how off kilter I feel starting a class two weeks late because of snow storms and that it did not occur to me until now that there was a possibility of snow days from grad school. I am however excited to begin! Having read the Friere chapters, I find myself intrigued and inspired. What does literacy really mean? In this modern world where technology and information are both progressing so quickly literacy cannot be simply the ability to read and write. Yet, this is the way I have always understood this word.
Friere introduced me to the fact idea that "reading involves critical perception, interpretation..." This seems logical, even inherent in the act of reading, yet I never would have thought of this as part of being literate. Language and our understanding of it has so much to do with the world around us and our interpretations of that world. I feel that Friere opened up my concept of literacy to include understanding and interpretation of our world and our lives as forms of literacy.
I enjoyed his connection of literacy to society and culture. Especially his points that the dominant powers in society dictate what is read and what is learned. We must expand our understanding of literacy and culture in order to give every student the modalities of expression through language and art. I am interested to delve deeper into this study and learn more about what we consider to be included in the world of these multiple literacies. Will this include computers, arts... what?
Two weeks of snow! I am amazed at how off kilter I feel starting a class two weeks late because of snow storms and that it did not occur to me until now that there was a possibility of snow days from grad school. I am however excited to begin! Having read the Friere chapters, I find myself intrigued and inspired. What does literacy really mean? In this modern world where technology and information are both progressing so quickly literacy cannot be simply the ability to read and write. Yet, this is the way I have always understood this word.
Friere introduced me to the fact idea that "reading involves critical perception, interpretation..." This seems logical, even inherent in the act of reading, yet I never would have thought of this as part of being literate. Language and our understanding of it has so much to do with the world around us and our interpretations of that world. I feel that Friere opened up my concept of literacy to include understanding and interpretation of our world and our lives as forms of literacy.
I enjoyed his connection of literacy to society and culture. Especially his points that the dominant powers in society dictate what is read and what is learned. We must expand our understanding of literacy and culture in order to give every student the modalities of expression through language and art. I am interested to delve deeper into this study and learn more about what we consider to be included in the world of these multiple literacies. Will this include computers, arts... what?
