Prior to the 1970’s in the US, the word literacy was seldom used in the context of education. Students were taught to read and write at the very basic of levels. How students read and how they are taught to read has changed dramatically over the years. “Today, reading, reading instruction, and more broadly conceived notions of literacy and literacy instruction are being defined by change in even more profound ways as new technologies require new literacies to effectively exploit their potentials” (Leu, 2004).
The History of Literacy Education
When America was founded children were taught to read for religious purposes. Children needed to be able to read materials like the Bible. America was settled by people seeking religious freedom and the value of reading was oriented based on these beliefs. It did not matter if the children could comprehend what was being read, only that they were able to read the words. During the time of the American Revolution there was a shift from reading for religious purposes to reading for political purposes. As America moved into the 20th-century, we had the first great breakthrough in reading instruction. IQ tests and other methods measurement were created and these made it possible to assess the effectiveness of reading materials and instructional methods. This prompted reading research and ultimately led to the creation of standardized testing. During war times, it came as a shock to discover that many of the men in the military could not read well enough to follow the printed instructions and manuals that they were given. This led to the recognition that the key to knowledge is education and the key to education is reading. Teachers, and the government, became concerned about reading instruction. During the early 1970’s, it became recognized that reading instruction must be …show more content…
A great deal of research was put into the process of reading. It was determined that effective reading instruction must be based on an understanding of how the reading process occurs. As America progressed through the 20th-century, reading instruction was based on phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Towards the early part of the 21st-century, reading instruction became guided by data and the different types of literacy available to children: print, media, auditory, and the …show more content…
The use of technology has increased over the years and will continue to increase in the future. The 21st-century demands that a literate student possess a wide range of abilities, including knowledge in both traditional and new literacies. A student studying with new literacy must be proficient and fluent with technology, be able to analyze multiple types of information (print and non-print), be able to evaluate multimedia texts, and be mature enough to use the new technology responsibly. According to research, “literacy teachers must find effective means of integrating computers into their instruction” (Robinson, 2012, p.223). However, this does not mean that all reading instruction should only be about computers.
The Internet and other forms of technology are redefining the nature of reading and writing. Communication has become less personal, with texting and social media guiding today’s conversations. Teachers can use this technology to their advantage and create a literacy curriculum that incorporates traditional and modern means of literacy instruction. “Research shows that effective instruction in 21st-century literacies takes an integrated approach, helping students understand how to access, evaluate, synthesize, and contribute to information” (Robinson, 2012,
The History of Literacy Education
When America was founded children were taught to read for religious purposes. Children needed to be able to read materials like the Bible. America was settled by people seeking religious freedom and the value of reading was oriented based on these beliefs. It did not matter if the children could comprehend what was being read, only that they were able to read the words. During the time of the American Revolution there was a shift from reading for religious purposes to reading for political purposes. As America moved into the 20th-century, we had the first great breakthrough in reading instruction. IQ tests and other methods measurement were created and these made it possible to assess the effectiveness of reading materials and instructional methods. This prompted reading research and ultimately led to the creation of standardized testing. During war times, it came as a shock to discover that many of the men in the military could not read well enough to follow the printed instructions and manuals that they were given. This led to the recognition that the key to knowledge is education and the key to education is reading. Teachers, and the government, became concerned about reading instruction. During the early 1970’s, it became recognized that reading instruction must be …show more content…
A great deal of research was put into the process of reading. It was determined that effective reading instruction must be based on an understanding of how the reading process occurs. As America progressed through the 20th-century, reading instruction was based on phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Towards the early part of the 21st-century, reading instruction became guided by data and the different types of literacy available to children: print, media, auditory, and the …show more content…
The use of technology has increased over the years and will continue to increase in the future. The 21st-century demands that a literate student possess a wide range of abilities, including knowledge in both traditional and new literacies. A student studying with new literacy must be proficient and fluent with technology, be able to analyze multiple types of information (print and non-print), be able to evaluate multimedia texts, and be mature enough to use the new technology responsibly. According to research, “literacy teachers must find effective means of integrating computers into their instruction” (Robinson, 2012, p.223). However, this does not mean that all reading instruction should only be about computers.
The Internet and other forms of technology are redefining the nature of reading and writing. Communication has become less personal, with texting and social media guiding today’s conversations. Teachers can use this technology to their advantage and create a literacy curriculum that incorporates traditional and modern means of literacy instruction. “Research shows that effective instruction in 21st-century literacies takes an integrated approach, helping students understand how to access, evaluate, synthesize, and contribute to information” (Robinson, 2012,