Comprehensive Literacy Framework

           Johnson and Keier's textbook, Catching Readers Before They Fall, dedicates a chapter to the comprehensive literacy framework and how to apply it inside the early elementary classroom. It encompasses teacher directed, teacher facilitated, and student directed work in reading and writing. The components of the literacy framework include reading to, with, and by children through read alouds, shared reading, guided reading, and independent reading, and writing to, with and by children through morning messages, community writing, and independent writing (Johnson and Keier, 2010, p. 73). There are separate sections dedicated to each smaller component of the framework.
           The authors are adept at showing the applicability of the strategies and methods presented. I appreciated the author’s inclusion of an example of a classroom implementing the framework successfully. Also, there are sample schedules included on pages 81, and 91 that detail how a teacher can cover all of the tasks involved in comprehensive literacy. The authors encourage teachers to “integrate literacy in all subjects” (Johnson and Keier, 2010, p. 91). Students can read and write about math, social studies, and science experiences, observations, and facts. The teacher can use community writing or read aloud as opportunities to discuss different subjects and practice literacy skills simultaneously. Covering different subjects in one lesson or project is more efficient and allows for authentic experiences with reading and writing.

Picture credit

Alex Martinez

Child-writing-great-blog-article

References
Johnson, P. & Keier, K. (2010). Catching readers before they fall: Supporting students who struggle, K-4. Portland, MN: Stenhouse Publishers. 

"What does literacy look like in my community--and why should I care?"

        Literacy presents itself in a various forms from print, media, and drawings. Its presence is an unavoidable and young children are constantly exposed to different kinds of literacy. In our community, the most pervasive form of literacy is reading and writing. College students are expected to demonstrate understanding through writing out answers, taking notes, writing essays, or research new topics. While letters and print are literacy, symbols and drawings can also be considered a type of literacy. Anything that someone else can make meaning from is literacy. In our community, the most common language is English, but other languages may present themselves as we strive to understand one another. Technology is also frequently used form of literacy. Children today are becoming more well-versed in how to use it, what its symbols and buttons mean and how to communicate and create with it.
         Children are exposed to all types of literacy even before they start schooling. They observe their families writing lists, reading books, playing games, and sending emails on the computer. Literacy is best taught when it the experiences are authentic and connected to to their worlds. Building a bridge between home and school can be an effective method for introducing reading and writing. Teachers must acknowledge children's prior experiences with literacy and not consider them blank slates.