Module 2 Blog Post 1
Defining New Literacies and Why They Matter:
As I have stated in my last blog, my teenage daughter keeps me up to date on the latest technology and ever evolving new literacy. I grew up in a time where books were our main source of literacy. Maybe google had just started to come around, but we did not rely on the internet like we do in today's world. Meetings that were once in person are now on Zoom. Data on paper is now on an app and taken on Ipads. Playing outside has been traded in for phones, tablets and computers. Video games are the new way of making friends all over the world. What was once so simple and personable has been changed into something way larger, opening up endless possibilities.
As a teacher to preschoolers with special needs, learning is a lot different. Many of them have not found their voice yet and reading is not even an option. We rely on many digital literacies. Most of them involving music and song. By incorporating this into our everyday routines the students have begun and even mastered many of the skills and goals they are working on. The New London Group defined multiliteracies as a combination of multiple ways of communicating and making meaning, including such modes as visual, audio, spatial, behavioral, and gestural (New London Group, 1996.) For students that do not speak at all, are given a communication device so they too can be heard. This device has an endless number of words along with relevant people and characters in their life. This is one way to help get their needs met without the ability to speak. I have seen major success using this device and the happiness it brings the students is heartwarming.
Before teaching preschool, I taught second grade at a charter school. This school was in an inner city of New York. The students were a very diverse population, coming from different countries and speaking different languages. Some students lived in nice houses while others lived in homeless shelters with multiple siblings and their mom. Some students did not have the means financially to have books at home to read and relied solely on the school. Unfortunately, the school only provided one ENL teacher to so many different students. The school graded these students heavily on tests called interims. The interims were printed in English. Some students had no chance at doing well on these tests because of their diversity. Not only were they not in their native language but they had no relevance to their life at all. Beecher states, "Students learn best when learning is authentic and connected to their lives" (Beecher, 2023). Schools would have a much better success rate with diverse learners if what they taught was relevant to many different students and not just the majority population.
Luckily with the use of social media, videos, stories and much more the world will begin to open up to new ideas and support all the different learners. With some forms of technology, a student is now able to translate an English document to their native language. I personally believe that new literacies and technology has benefited us in many different ways.
What is Literacy? Multiple perspectives on literacy (Beecher, C., 2023)
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ReplyDeleteBlog Post 1 Reply #1 by Savannah Taylor -
ReplyDeleteI love your reflection on communication devices and the unique form of digital literacy that they present! In your case, it sounds that the utilization of communication devices for your students teaches them to adapt using technology as a means of interacting and communicating with the world around them. I am very interested, what specific types of communication devices are your students currently using? I have experienced communication devices in k-12 educational settings however I’ve never considered their application in a preschool setting where students likely have not learned to read or write yet. Do these developmental skills present a barrier in your ability to integrate digital literacy into your classroom? I further appreciate your reflection regarding the use of social media, videos, stories and other digital outlets to promote digital literacy and engage students of diverse backgrounds. This being said, I want to challenge this notion of increased capabilities as a result of new technologies by addressing the resource gap that can easily be increased a a result of inequitable access the these useful technological tools that you have described. Have you considered the implications of new technology and overemphasis of digital literacy on the resource gap between non-marginalized versus marginalized groups in education?
Hi Savannah,
DeleteThey are described as an AAC device. (Augmentative and alternate communication) Some students use it more functionally than other students in my classroom. I have had 2 students in particular who have had amazing success. One can use it to spell words, identify objects, let us know what he wants and even identify certain individuals. The other student has just recently began speaking after becoming proficient with it. She can identify all the letters, numbers and colors. It is truly remarkable the progress they have made with these devices as non-speaking individuals.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say how thoughtful I think your blog was. I love how your daughter helps to keep you updated. The difference in even just those years make has a lasting impact. I love how you incorporate music and songs into your everyday lessons. Some of my best memories are learning those 'classic' pre-k songs! I also use songs but mainly for math. I find it EXTREMELY difficult to keep fifth graders attention on the board. I find if I start it off with a video or song by Number Rock, that they tend to love it a lot more!
I also love how we have the connection of teaching ENL students. I loved having students in my class who spoke another language. I would use audio books or even pair them up with a stronger reader to help them out. By the time they left fourth grade they were READING ON GRADE LEVEL! It is amazing what some of these kids are capable of!
Hi Fallon,
DeleteBelieve it or not I think my students learn best when songs are incorporated into lessons. Washing hands, days of the week, cleaning up are all songs in my classroom and the students love it.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post! I think it is awesome that you have your daughter help you stay up to date in technology. Your quote from Beecher is relatable to all teachers. Being able to relate students learning to their own personal life can go such a long way for them. It brings comfort to them being in your classroom. I love using a reading platform called epic in my classroom. I use this platform to share collections to students that correlate to their reading levels as well as a unit of study that we are currently in. Great post!
Hi Joe,
DeleteWe used Epic in my second-grade classroom as a reinforcer when lessons were done and they had extra time. The kids loved it!
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, and I love the literacy that you incorporate into your lesson plans. The singing, the dancing, and the improvising can help children out in so many ways, especially your non-verbal students. We have therapist come in all of the time and talk to use about the technology they incorporate into the rooms, and it really does help the children with their needs. For example an AAC device, this is where the non verbal students can make decisions on their own. I found an article that supports my comment, "research shows that AAC can actually help with these concerns! People who use AAC can also learn how to read and write." (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2024). Students learn best when they feel incorporated with the others, and I believe that this digital device helps with this. Thank you for sharing your experience within your classroom.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2024). Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). ASHA. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/