Monthly Archives: September 2010

In “Sponsors of Literacy,” Brandt argues that, in addition to familial upbringing and racial status, there exists another force that shapes how we become literate and determines what types of literacies we learn. Briefly examine your own life and pick … Continue reading →

As Goodman stated, “Although it may seem obvious, it is important to remember that children’s development of literacy grows out of their experiences, and the views and attitudes towards literacy that they encounter as they interact with social groups” (317). … Continue reading →

In Rose’s literacy narrative, he discusses his experiences growing up the son of two immigrant parents in a rough and violent neighborhood. As a child, he strived to educate himself, soon being able to do things his parents couldn’t. He had a … Continue reading →

Thinking about Rose’s upbringing with immigrant parents made me think a lot about my own childhood. Growing up with a Finnish mother, I’m sure my experiences with literacy were far different than people who grew up with solely English-speaking parents. … Continue reading →

Rose’s tale of a boy growing up in a violent area, plagued with lack of intellectual influence and guidance, and a poor education system is not as uncommon a story as we may think. In fact, growing up in a … Continue reading →

I’m actually not sure what week it is or if I’m supposed to be posting or have posted, so I thought it might be prudent to put up a question anyway. Here goes: How important is it to have someone … Continue reading →

Considering many of the individuals in this course want to be teachers, what are your feelings about Rose’s claim that “Students will float to the mark that you set”.  Since literacy seems to be such a malleable concept, do educators … Continue reading →

Though both men were raised in what can loosely be labeled “non-literate” environments, Rose and Akinnaso had different methods of becoming literate; and thus the attitudes towards those methods differ.  Compare and contrast the beliefs Rose and Akinnaso have towards … Continue reading →

Akinnaso relates his unique journey to literacy in his essay Questioning Literacy and Individual Consciousness. In the current educational reform atmosphere of American education a student’s home life is frequently touted as the most debilitating or successful variable in a student’s … Continue reading →

Ooops. We forgot to celebrate today in class! But I think that our healthy discussion today–on the uses of literacy as liberator and as weapon, the fuzzy distinction between oral and literate practices, the problem with claiming the phonetic alphabet as superior … Continue reading →