Literacy is Like a Box of Chocolates

You never know what you’re going to get.

Regardless of where you are or what you are doing, literacy can reach you anywhere. In class this semester, I was shown that we as people need to step away from the belief that literacy is strictly reading and writing. It is so much more than that. Every article that we read and activity we participated in showed us aspiring English students, that literacy is everywhere and that it will help us immensely in our futures if we understand that concept and realize its importance now rather than later.

Twitter for instance. How is twitter Literacy? According to Keri Franklin, many of the same aspects apply. When we tweet, we are sending our beliefs, feelings, emotions, and all other personal aspects of our being into the open world of the internet where it will be viewed, judged, and critiqued. That is a lot more pressure when thought of in that way. But its true! People see these tweets and catch a glimpse of who we really are in 140 characters. That is literacy. Just like someones novel, or essay, or poem, we are writing something personal and letting it go publicly. Even if it isn’t as long as other works, it is who we are. I never realized this until this article!

Another aspect of this class that I enjoyed was the idea of difference. Every work of literacy is different just as every person who reads them is different. So what does this mean in the grand scheme of things? I am a strong supporter in the idea that all people learn differently. Everything we do and each thought we possess is based on past experiences. So how can one piece of literature per say be taught the same way to different children yet offer the same beliefs? The fact is, it cant. Which is something our society needs to understand. Different things hold so much weight on people and so little on others. We must realize that with all of these differences, the right thing to do is encourage people to react naturally. When I become a teacher I will be happy to be told different things about a text. I don’t want programmed students who all hand in 40 copies of the same essay with the same beliefs. Thats not literacy!

Not only did I learn a lot about the subject in this class, but I learned a lot about myself as well as other people. I saw what ways worked best for me and what ways worked best for others. I read a book and formed all of these ideas and meanings only to come to class and hear people have ideas that I never even thought of. But thats the greatness in it all. That is what literacy is supposed to be! Your reaction, others reactions and the communication that takes place when you go over it! Step out of out boring old school beliefs and into the new age literacy full of music and tweets! I promise is a lot more fulfilling. Thank you Kim for an amazing semester in which you taught me so much. I am very grateful!