How to really teach literacy

                In Success guaranteed Literacy Programs: I Don’t Buy it!” Lynn A. Gatto talks about her successful literacy program.  Gatto does not use the commercial programs and products that her district provides to “teach reading, writing, listening and speaking” (Gatto, 2007, p. 75).  Instead, Gatto defines literacy as “shorthand for the social practices of reading and writing” (p. 75).  She engages students to use their existing literacy skills in order to build on them and create new skills by providing them with learning experiences.  Gatto teaches students that they are part of the process of their own learning.  She encourages dialogue and communication between students where they can learn to express their ideas and have meaningful conversations with peers.  The commercial scripts tend to be on the side of Paulo Freire’s banking education, where students are filled with information, not taught how to use that information.  Gatto enables students to develop a ‘critical consciousness’ that banking concept strives to leave undeveloped. 

                Teachers along with students are under pressure to perform, to get high test scores and to make their district look successful.  They are given commercial programs and products that are designed to prepare students to give high test scores, but they are not designed to teach students the skills they need.  Teachers like Gatto teach outside of those commercial programs and give students skills they will be able to use in all areas and beyond the tests.  Gatto theory of learning is one that should be incorporated into every classroom, it gives students a voice and gives them ownership in their learning process.

This video is entitled What does it mean to be literate in the 21^st Century http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn0_H-kvxkU and touches on how literacy has changed with technology, but is still about teaching basic skills to students that they will be able to apply to changing times and technology.