COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Unit 1. Introduction of Key Concepts

Submitted by:
Dela Cruz, Rizza Mae M.
Doctor, Evangeline U.
Duldulao, Romelyn S.
Elcarte, Giovanni
Eusebio, Kathlene L.
Juan, Mary Jane C.
Lapitan, Joyce Lynel F.
Mariano, Bryan Aaron M.
Nuñez, Mildred D.S
Paglingayen, Jonna Belle A.
Rudica, Mary Joy F.
Tan, Josell E.
Ubaldo, Maria Regina B.

Submitted to:
Prof. Verjun J. Dilla

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ………………………………………………………………………...……................ i

Table of Contents ………………………………………………………...…………..………ii-iii
Unit 1. Introduction of Key Concepts
A. Definitions of Traditional Literacies ……………………………..……………………….1-3
Traditional Literacy…………………………………………………………………………….... 1
Functional Literacy…………………………………………………………………………..…....1
Early Literacy/Emergent Literacy…………………………………………………………….…. 2
Basic Literacy and Skills……………………………………………………………….................2

B. Definitions of the 21st Century Literacies………………………………………………...3-9

The 21st Century Literacies and Skills……………………………………………………..….….3
Globalization and Multi-Cultural Literacy..………………………………………………..….… 3
Social Literacy..……………………………………………………………………………….…. 6
Media Literacy…………………………………………………………………………………….8
Financial Literacy…………………………………………………………………………………9
Cyber/ Digital Literacy……………………………………………………………………..……. 9
Eco-Literacy……………………………………………………………………………………... 9
Arts and Creativity Literacy………………………………………………………………………9

C. Features of 21st Century………………………………………..……………………….10-11

D. Critical Attributes of the 21st Century Education ……………………………………11-13
Integrated and Interdisciplinary..…………………………………………………………..…… 11
Technologies and Multimedia………………………………………………………………..…..11
Global Classrooms…………………………………………………………………………….…11
Creating/Adapting to Constant Personal and Social Change, and Lifelong Learning……….…..11
Student-Centered………………………………………………………………………………....12

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21st Century Skills………………………………………………………………………..….12-13
Project-Based and Research Driven………………………………………………………….….13
Relevant, Rigorous and Real World.………………………………………………………….…13

E. Basic Strategies for Developing Literacy……………………………………………….14-17

Making Connections…………………………………………………………………………......14
Visualizing…………………………………………………………………………………….....14
Inferring………………………………………………………………………………………….15
Questioning………………………………………………………………………………………15
Determining Importance Synthesizing….................................................................................15-16

References……………………………………………………………………………………….17

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 A. Definitions of Traditional Literacies

1. Traditional Literacy – is the ability to read the written word to gain understanding and
meaning.
For what feels like forever, literacy has been around. Despite the fact that literacy from some
of the earliest days of human existence has always been part of human life. So Traditional literacy
is the ability to read the written word to gain understanding and meaning. For several purposes, in
the field of chemistry, the ability to access and communicate knowledge in both reading and
writing is important.
First of all, and most importantly for the field of education, a lot of the subject matter that
students are supposed to learn from a textbook will be taught to them. In the broader picture, in
order to excel in the sciences, it is important to be able to communicate clearly with others because
so much of today’s research is carried out in a cooperative way. Perhaps more fundamental, the
implementation of the scientific method itself involves direct communication in order to be able
to reproduce experiments and accurately transmit findings to others.
The third explanation why students ought to be scientifically literate is to make educated
decisions on both public policy and their personal lives. In the future, our students will be faced
with scientific knowledge found in magazines and journals during their adult lives.
As a future teacher, it is our responsibility to ensure that they can understand the value of what
they learn, so that they can act as responsible people. It is important to remember that traditional
literacy does not imply, in its simplest forms, reading and writing. Instead, it means being able to
access written work in a way that allows for critical thought to reach a degree of comprehension.
Likewise, traditional literacy refers to writing in such a way that both demonstrates this critical
thought and enables the viewer to have a high level of comprehension. In fact, writing can actually
help students encourage this form of thought. In order to explain information, they have to
recognize it, they have to arrange it in order to present information. The importance of writing in
a chemistry classroom should not, for this reason, be overshadowed by the application of reading
skills to studying textbooks.
2. Functional Literacy – is primarily about skills or applied knowledge.
As we define functional literacy is primarily about skills or applied knowledge. It’s just
secondary to evidence or understanding of the subject matter. Scientific literacy, for instance, does
not mean you have memorized the intricacies of how quantum computers run. Instead, it implies
that you know how to ask questions and apply testing or falsification methods that make it possible
for those technologies. Second, functional literacy keeps our high-tech society functioning.
Relative to today’s highly dynamic, technological society, the forms of functional literacy listed
are, but that does not make them any less true.
For instance, without media literacy or computer literacy, the ancient Greeks got by well,
but that’s because they didn’t have digital networks. We obviously need them if these examples
of functional literacy are unique to our high-tech society.

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 3. Early Literacy/Emergent Literacy - refers to the development of skills students need in
order to transition from learning to read, to reading to learn. These skills include vocabulary,
phonics, language, and numeracy, to name a few.
Early literacy gives students the foundation they need in order to learn and grow. Kids who
master essential early literacy skills and are reading proficiently in the early grades are more likely
to graduate high school and enroll in college.
Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they actually learn
to read and write. It is not teaching reading, drilling or using flashcards. Instead, it is laying the
foundation, so that your child has necessary skills when he or she is developmentally ready to read.
Early literacy does not mean teaching young children how to read. Instead, it means helping
children develop the skills they will need to become successful readers.
Early literacy activities build rich language skills: vocabulary, self-expression, and
understanding (comprehension). These skills help children make sense of printed words when they
start reading.
1. Print Motivation – helps the child be interested in and enjoy books and begin
reading books early, even when your child is a newborn.
2. Print Awareness – helps your child notice print, know how to handle a book and
how to follow the words on a page. Being familiar with printed language helps
children feel comfortable with books and understand that print is useful.
3. Letter Knowledge – your child will know letters are different from each other, know
their names and sounds and recognize letters everywhere.
4. Vocabulary – teaches your child to know the names of things and Read together
every day.
5. Narrative Skills – your child will be able to describe things and events and tell
stories, encourage your child to tell you about things and read favorite books again
and again.
6. Phonological Awareness – your child will be able to hear and play with smaller
sounds in words. Add actions to songs to help break down language into separate
words.

4. Basic literacy and skills - has been popularly defined as form of abilities to read, write, and
do basic arithmetic or numeracy. Barton (2006) asserts that the notion of basic literacy is used
for the initial learning of reading and writing which adults who have never been to school
need to go through.
Basic literacy skills are referred to the skills of reading, writing and numeracy. It is vital for
the individuals to possess these skills, to carry out various tasks and activities and sustain their
living conditions in an appropriate manner. Basic literacy skills are regarded as an indispensable
component of human resource development. It is fundamental to not only growth and
development of human resources, but also to lead to social and economic progress of the nation.
They render an important contribution towards bringing about improvements in the quality of lives
of the individuals. Acquisition of basic literacy skills help the individuals to carry out the functions
of child development, health care and well-being, management of household responsibilities,
purchase and sales of items, carrying out banking transactions, and making decisions.

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 1. Phonemic Awareness – the ability to hear, identify, manipulate, and substitute phoneme
the smallest units of sound that can differentiate meaning in spoken words.
2. Phonics – the ability to understand that there is a predictable relationship between
phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (the letters that represent those sounds in written
language) in order to associate written letters with the sounds of spoken language
3. Fluency – the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and expressively, either to oneself or
aloud.
4. Vocabulary – the growing, stored compilation of words that students understand and use
in their conversation (oral vocabulary) and recognize in print (reading vocabulary).
5. Comprehension – the ability to understand, remember, and make meaning of what has
been read—this is the purpose for reading.

B. Definitions of the 21st Century Literacies

The 21st Century Literacies and Skills
1. Globalization and Multi-Cultural Literacy

1. Globalization
Globalization Definition
 is the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments
worldwide.
 is the integration of national economies through trade, investment, capital flow, labor
migration, and technology.
 is the free movement of goods, services and people across the world in a seamless and
integrated manner. [Globalization can be thought of to be the result of the opening up of
the global economy and the concomitant increase in trade between nations.]

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What is Global Literacy?
Global Literacy aims to address issues of globalization, racism, diversity and social justice
(Guo, 2014). It requires awareness and action, consistent with a broad understanding of humanity,
the planet, and the impact of human decision on both. Global Literacy also aims to empower
students with knowledge and take action to make a positive impact in the world and their local
community (Guo, 2014).
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education (2015), a global citizen should display most
or all of the following characteristics:
 Respect for humans no matter their race, gender, religion or political perspectives.
 Respect for diversity and various perspectives.
 Promoting sustainable patterns of living, consumption, and production.
 Appreciate the natural world and demonstrate respectful towards the rights of all living
things.
Importance of Globalization
1. Global village- incredibly aware of what is happening anywhere around the world
2. Social awareness- spreading news and facilitating globalization; keeping us up to date and
knowledgeable about current events; facilitated raising awareness of issues, which can lead
to great social change.
3. Personal communication- connected to our friends and families in various parts of the
world, (e.g. telephone and social media); reach out to loved ones immediately and for a
minimal cost any time we need, constantly updated about what is going on in their lives
through social media.
Globalization in Relation to Education
 Globalization and education then come to affect one another through mutual goals of
preparing young people for successful futures during which their nations will grow
increasingly connected.
 With globalization some of the challenges for knowledge, education and learning will
provide today’s learners the ability to be more familiar and comfortable with abstract
concepts and uncertain situations.
 Globalization enhances the student’s ability to acquire and utilize knowledge.
Globalization enhances the ability of learners to access, assess, adopt, and apply knowledge,
to think independently to exercise appropriate judgment and to collaborate with others to
make sense of new situations.

2. Multicultural Literacy
It consists of the skills and ability to identify the creators of knowledge and their interests
(Banks, 1996), to uncover the assumptions of knowledge, to view knowledge from diverse ethnic
and cultural perspective, and to use knowledge to guided action that will create a humane and just
world (Boutte, 2008).

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 Multicultural Literacy then, brings attention to diversity, equity and social justice to foster
cultural awareness by addressing difficult issues like discrimination and oppression towards other
ethnicities (Boutte, 2008).
According to Boutte (2008) education for multicultural literacy should help students to
develop the 21st century skills and attitudes that are needed to become active citizens who will
work towards achieving social justice within our communities. Because of the growing racial,
language and ethnic diversity in our country, Multicultural Literacy needs to be transformed in
substantial ways to prepare students to function effectively in the 21 st Century (Boutte, 2008).
According to the Ministry of Education (2013), “culture goes much deeper than typical
understandings of ethnicity, race and/or faith. It encompasses broad notions of similarity and
difference”. Hence, one of the key practices in the classroom for multicultural literacy is for
teachers to not be colorblind, label students, or use negative connotations in relation to diverse
backgrounds (Hawkins, 2014).

Multicultural + Global Literacy

How are Multicultural and Global Literacy Interconnected?
 Every classroom contains students of different race, religion, and cultural groups. Students
embrace diverse behaviors, cultural values, patterns of practice, and communication. Yet
they all share one commonality: their educational opportunity (Guo, 2014)
 Teachers should teach their students that other cultures exist and that these deserve to be
acknowledged and respected. Integrating a variety of cultural context into lessons and
activities, teaches students to view the world from many angles, creates a respect for
diversity and enables students to learn exciting information. As classrooms become
increasingly more diverse, it is important for educators to acknowledge an address diversity
issues and to integrate multiculturalism information into the classroom curriculum (Guo,
2014)
 Globalization and Multicultural Literacy …
Is knowledge of cultures and languages.
We live in multicultural societies, teach in multicultural settings, and our students interact
with those who come from a different place. Awareness of and sensitivity to culturally
determined norms promote understanding. In fact, when students embrace the principle
that difference does not equal deficiency, they gain an appreciation for the wealth of
diversity that surrounds us.

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2. Social Literacy

Social Literacy Definition

 Social literacy, from the perspective of the social-cultural theory, is more than the ability
to read and write, and more than mastering literacy skills. Children can learn literacy
through social interaction between themselves and children and/or adults in or outside
school. Adults can use books, games, toys, conversations, field trips, and stories to develop
the literacy practices through fun.
 An individual’s activity to successfully and deliberately mediate their word as family
members, workers, citizens and lifelong learners.
 This refers to the development of social skills to interact positively in a defined
environment.
Importance of Social Literacy
 Social literacy is important because students must learn the necessary skills to
communicate and widen their social circles.
 It is more important to make sure students interact in groups. By working in groups the
students are practicing social skills that can be applied within and outside of the classroom.
Causes of Being a Social Illiterate
 Lack of confidence
 Learning disabilities
 Depression
Social Literacy Skills
1. Maintaining Eye contact
2. Understanding angry feelings
3. Collaborating ideas
4. Discussion
5. Ability to meet new people

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In the Age of the Smartphone, Students Need Help with Social Literacy
Today’s students have grown up with the internet, with cellphones becoming something of
an extra appendage. Many can’t make it through lunch (much less a whole day) without checking
their phones or otherwise interacting with technology. Always-on culture has been a challenge for
recent graduates who entered the workforce without the social intelligence that came naturally to
their older co-workers. This situation underscores the importance of educating students in what
could be called social literacy to ensure their academic and career success.
How is it changing?
In today’s changing society we have moved from encouraging a strict definition of social
skills as conversation skills to a more broad understanding of social literacy. Today it is important
to tie in technology when teaching social literacy because this is an important feature of how
individuals communicate.
Technology Can Be Used To Teach Social Literacy
1. YouTube

This website support Social Literacy because students can watch videos displaying how
other people communicate. They can get in touch with all different kinds of people from all over
the world. They can also practice their own communication skills by creating their own videos and
sharing it with the YouTube world.

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2. Facebook

This site allows students to keep in touch with people from where ever they may be.
Students can keep in touch with family and peers through this website on personal level through
pictures and statuses and even a chat feature. One way a teacher could use Facebook is by creating
a class group to keep each other up to date about upcoming assignment or events going on at school.

3. Google Docs

This allows a team of people to collaborate on the same page at the same time. This can be
used as an instructional strategy to encourage students to investigate, write, and work together in
discussion. This is a great technology to use to incorporate Social Literacy in the classroom
because the students are able to learn together.

3. Media Literacy
Media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the
messages they’re sending. Kids take in a huge amount of information from a wide array of sources,
far beyond the traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines) of most parents’ youth.
There are text messages, memes, viral videos, social media, video games, advertising, and
more. But all media shares one thing: Someone created it. And it was created for a reason.
Understanding that reason is the basis of media literacy. The digital age has made it easy for anyone
to create media. We don’t always know who created something, why they made it, and whether

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it’s credible. This makes media literacy tricky to learn and teach. Nonetheless, media literacy is an
essential skill in the digital age.
4. Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills,
including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. The lack of these skills is
called financial illiteracy. The lack of financial literacy can lead to a number of pitfalls.
Financially illiterate individuals may be more likely to accumulate unsustainable debt
burdens, for example, either through poor spending decisions or through a lack of long-term
preparation. This in turn can lead to poor credit, bankruptcy, housing foreclosure, or other negative
consequences. Thankfully, there are now more resources than ever for those wishing to educate
themselves about the world of finance.
5. Cyber/ Digital Literacy
The ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and create information using technologies and
multimedia, or digital technology in general, is referred to as digital literacy.
Cyber Literacy means the ability to use computer technologies effectively and to
simultaneously understand the implications of those actions.
Nowadays, Digital literacy has a huge Impact in learning style of every students. Teachers
must be knowledgeable about the proper and correct usage of Technology, so that they can able to
use it as a pedagogy. Digital literacy in teaching profession is a must, because as a teacher some
of the day to day activities like, Making reports, lessons, Multimedia presentations and Exchanging
information with teachers and students required a different level of literacy. Meanwhile cyber
literacy is also important to give awareness to teachers on how they to can able to find reliable
websites for reliable data and facts that eventually they will teach and share to their future students.
6. Eco-Literacy
Eco-literacy is a logical component of education for sustainable development as its focus
on the various interactions of different elements in the environment includes human activity which
is essential to the achievement of a self-sustaining community that preserves it resources for future
generations.
As a teacher, we should not just focus on teaching goods norms and different subjects, we
should also focus on teaching them how they can able to protect environment and be a responsible
individual towards sustainable development. Segregation of garbage is one of the best example
you can teach to your students.
7. Arts and Creativity Literacy
This literacy can be expressed in creative ways of problem-solving and demonstrated
through the preparation of valuable works of art. Educators and administrators need to be more
adept at the arts and manifest creativity in a variety of activities. Art-infused education is a strong
way to help children learn. Research shows that the use of art throughout the curriculum increases
student engagement. Art builds the 21st century’s readiness and develops the 4C’s: creativity,
critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills.

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 Arts-literacy is essential because it enables unique ways of viewing the world that are not
accessible in any other field of study. The American philosophy of education, Maxine Greene,
calls this way of knowing ‘being wide awake.’ Arts literacies help students develop design-
thinking, creativity and critical thinking-all skills have been identified as important for the global
workplace. There is a variety of research that consistently demonstrates the beneficial effect of art-
based approaches to improving academic and social outcomes for school students.
Examples of arts-based approaches we have implemented include using drama to support
learning in English, History, Geography and Science student perform music, create art, present a
play, dance to music or invent new media. With having creative literacy, students can gain a deeper
sense of their progress to become more independent learners.

C. Features of 21st century

As we all know, 21st century education focuses on the personalization, equality and
collaboration so that learners will be able to adjust and adapt to rapidly changing global economy.
The following are the 7 key features of 21st century Education:
 Personalized learning – A personalized model acknowledges that not every learners learn
in the same way. Personalized learning involves distinguishing guidance so that students
can learn in ways that align their personal needs. Examples of personalized learning
includes Differentiated instruction, Individualized education plans, Student-led projects in
the classroom, and Enhanced freedom of choice in the classroom.
 Equity, diversity and inclusivity - in the 21st Century, social inclusion and difference are
celebrated unlike the 20th century where students are expected to conform to the
mainstream or to be excluded. The goal of 21st Century educators is to achieve a level
playing field. Educators are trying to bridge the gap between rich and poor. Let’s hope that
one day your family’s wealth will not determine how successful you are at school.
 Learning through doing - In the 21st century, motivate students to learn by doing so. The
main premise in the ‘learning through doing’ approach is that we are much better at
knowing, remembering, and using knowledge if we learn actively than through distance
learning.
 Changed role of the teacher - Classrooms have changed from teacher-centered to student-
centered. In the past, students were all focusing on the teacher and listening to the teacher’s
words. Now, the teacher focuses on the students who are at the center of attention. The
teacher’s job is to help train students as they learn.
 Community relationships - Bringing people from different walks of life into the
classroom also helps our students to create connections with people who aren’t like
themselves. This can help inclusion, education for social justice, and create links between
people of different cultures. In multicultural societies, community members can also teach
us about how to best teach children within their cultures. For example, children from
Indigenous cultures may have grown up with very different learning styles from other
children in the class. By engaging with local Indigenous people, teachers can learn how
best to teach those children in their class.
 Technology - It is important to make appropriate use of new learning technologies.
Learners should not use information to detect them from thinking or to help them cheat.

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 Instead, software should be used to help teachers obtain information or to think in ways
they could not do otherwise. We call technologies that help students think harder about
learning ‘cognitive tools.’
 Teacher professionalization - Educating students in this century is precisely more
complex than it was in the last one! We need to create personalized lessons, to be inclusive,
to aim for equality, to encourage creativity, to engage with the community, to use
technology to improve learning.

D. Critical Attributes of the 21st Century Education

1. Integrated and Interdisciplinary

 One of the attributes of the 21st century Education should be Integrated and
Interdisciplinary. It simply means that one field of knowledge connects to the different
areas of study by cutting across subject-matter lines. It was called integrated curriculum
 In this critical attributes, teachers should identify strategies on how they will be able to
linked one subject to another discipline to improve the learning experience of their
students
 Like for example, Mathematics may be integrated in studying geography. Mathematics
can be integrated in geography through measuring the distance of one place to another
in the map by the form of ratio or scale.
 The benefits of this attribute is that it allows learners to learn in a holistic way without
restriction of the subject boundaries.

2. Technologies and Multimedia

 Technologies and Multimedia is one of the critical attributes of 21st century education,
wherein the use of computers and internet plays a vital role in the teaching and learning
process.
 In this critical attributes, the school premises should have computers and any other
multimedia equipment like projectors and television to enhance the teaching and learning
process.

3. Global Classrooms
Education in the 21st century aims to produce global citizens by exposing students to the
concerns of the region and other countries. They are encouraged to react and respond to issues as
part of their roles as global citizens. This critical attribute implies that teachers need to include
current global issues/concerns, such as peace and respect for cultural diversity, climate change
4. Creating/ Adapting to Constant Personal and Social Change, and Lifelong Learning
Education in the 21st century subscribes to the belief that learning does not only happen
inside the school and during one’s schooling years. Learning can take place anywhere, anytime,
regardless of one’s age.

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 This means that teachers should facilitate students’ acquisition of KSAVs that go beyond
academics. Learning should take place not only for the purpose of passing exams, but also for
transferring knowledge to real life situations. The curriculum should be planned in such a way that
the students will continue to learn even outside the school’s portals.e, and global warming, in
classroom discussions.
5. Student-centered
Education in the 21st century is focused on students as learners. It is tailor-fit to address the
individual learning needs of each student. Differentiated instruction is common in 21st century
classrooms, where diverse student factors are taken into account when planning and delivering
instruction. You, as a teacher, can structure learning environments that address the variety of
learning styles, interests, needs, and abilities found in your classroom. This critical attribute
implies that teachers should act as facilitators of learning — not as “sages on the stage” but as
“guides on the side.” Learners should be given opportunities to discover new knowledge, learn
with one another, and create their own learnings.
Examples of Student-Centered
 Being clear about how you will promote, measure, and celebrate understanding
 Modeling ‘how to think‘ for students
 Helping students understand what’s worth understanding
 Diversifying what you accept as evidence of understanding
 Creating curriculum and instruction around a need to know
 Collaborating with students to create the rubric or scoring guide
 Letting students choose the project’s purpose
 Choosing ‘power standards’ from your curriculum after meeting with both students,
parents, and community members that voice their unique societal and cultural needs
 Letting students choose their own media form that reflects the purpose of the
reading
 Choice boards
 Placing struggling readers in a lit circle that gives them an authentic role that they
can be successful in, allows them to hear oral fluency and reading speed model and
keeps them from feeling ‘broken’
 Starting class with a story
 Using the on-demand writing prompt as the summative assessment
 Framing learning in terms of process and growth and purpose
 Choosing what’s graded carefully, and considering other work as practice

6. 21st Century Skills

Education in the 21st century promotes the skills needed to be productive members of
today’s society. It is not enough for students to learn the basic skills of reading, writing, and
numeracy, but should develop in themselves skills that would help them cope with life and work
in 21st century communities. These skills include, among others, critical and creative thinking
skills, problem solving and decision making, and ICT literacy and skills. As a teacher, you are
expected to possess these 21st century skills before you can help your students develop these skills.

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The Twelve 21st Century skills are:
1. Critical thinking
2. Creativity
3. Collaboration
4. Communication
5. Information literacy
6. Media literacy
7. Technology literacy
8. Flexibility
9. Leadership
10. Initiative
11. Productivity
12. Social skills

7. Project-Based and Research Driven

 The emphasis on data, knowledge, and evidence-based decision making is among the
essential qualities of 21st century education. To promote active learning, it relies heavily
on student-driven activities. This means that 21st century teachers need to be informative
about research in order to guide the learning of their students through self-directed
activities, such as learning projects in and outside their classrooms.
 This gives learners the chance to gain knowledge and skills through projects that resolve
problems and issues they can face in the real world.
 It keeps students engaged, which is why it improves the attitude of students towards
education.

8. Relevant, Rigorous and Real World.

 This critical attribute means that subjects are taught using current and relevant information
and connected to real-life circumstances and context. As a teacher in the 21st century, you
need to be updated on the latest trends, innovations and problems in your school, society
and in the world.
 Education is important in the 21st century because it is embedded in the day-to-day lives of
learners in real life. It can be adapted to the circumstances of the present and includes what
needs to be learned by students to allow them to become active 21st century members.

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E. Basic Strategies For Developing Literacy
Literacy Strategies – use a variety of strategies to make sense of what they read. Effective
readers use specific strategies when reading that show they understand or comprehend what they’re
reading. Six such strategies are:
1. Making Connections
The brain is a learning machine. Everything you do, think, and wonder has the potential to be
stored as a neuron, or a cell in your brain. These neurons form communities by branching out and
connecting to other neurons. The neurons are grouped by similarities, forming memories that make
sense. For example, your understanding of the word ‘round’ helps you understand and make
connections to several objects, including the moon or a ball.
Reading is no exception. When children read, they’re reminded of previously stored
knowledge, or schema. The books they read can be connected in three ways:
text to self - reminding children of something that happened in their own lives;
text to text - when a book reminds them of another they’ve read;
or text to world - when the text reminds them of something they’ve seen in the world at large.
Encourage readers to make connections first text to self, then text to text, then text to world.
2. Visualizing
Visualizing refers to our ability to create pictures in our heads based on text we read or
words we hear. It is one of many skills that makes reading comprehension possible. This method
is an ideal strategy to teach to young students who are having trouble reading.
As most people say that reading a books will take you to another world where you can
enjoy things and take away all your stress. As the author defines the places and other things we
already starting to visualize things. In this we can easily understand things as if we are seeing it.
Visualizing takes us to other dimension that we think we can’t go through, but because of our mind
the impossible are now possible.
Examples:

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3. Inferring
Inferring means figuring out something that the author doesn't actually say. You can use
clues that are in the text, and things from your own mind. Sometimes it's called "reading between
the lines," and it adds a lot more meaning to the story.
It is like searching or finding something in the things that we do not easily understand.
Since most of the author hide the real meaning of the context. We should analyze carefully the
lines and what’s the author wants to convey in the book. The words conclude and deduce are
related to inferring, it also means of figuring something out through reasoning.
Examples:

4. Questioning
Questioning is a major form of human thought and interpersonal communication. It
involves employing a series of questions to explore an issue, an idea or something intriguing.
Questioning is the process of forming and wielding that serves to develop answers and insight.
Questioning is a strategy that readers use to engage with the text. Questioning techniques
help the reader to clarify and comprehend what he is reading. Struggling readers tend not to ask
questions of themselves or the text as they read. Questioning is a reading strategy that is taught to
students to help them engage with the text. It helps the reader to clarify what he or she is reading
and to better understand the text. Asking good questions is a way for students to monitor their own
comprehension while reading.
All readers ask questions as they read. They wonder what will happen next, or what a
character is thinking, or when the story will shift. By asking questions, children engage with the
text and become more deeply involved, which allows them to understand and comprehend in a
rich, powerful way.
5. Determining importance synthesizing
The most complex reading strategy is synthesizing, is the process of merging ideas over
the course of a text in order to further understanding. Like summarizing, synthesizing requires
readers to read the full story. However, synthesizing doesn’t just happen at the end of the book;
rather, it happens as the reader gets new information. The reader pieces’ new insights together to

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understand and make new predictions throughout the book. This complex strategy can be taught
at any age.
Synthesizing a text is the process of pulling together background knowledge, newly learned
ideas, connections, inferences and summaries into a complete and original understanding of the
text. When students synthesize, they are made aware of how their thinking changes and evolves as
they read a text.
Synthesizing is similar to baking a cake. When we bake a cake, we combine all of the
separate ingredients – eggs, flour, sugar, butter, etc. – to make a new thing, a cake. When we
synthesize, we take what we already know and mix it with what we have learned from reading and
discussion to create new ideas and understandings.

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References:
Guro21 (2021), The Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education. Retrieved on
http://iflex.innotech.org/GURO21/module1/l1_5.html
Common Sense Media, What is media literacy, and why is it important?. Retrieved on
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/news-and-media-literacy/what-is-media-literacy-and-why-
is-it-important
Jason Fernando, Financial Literacy. Retrieved on
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-
literacy.asp#:~:text=Financial%20literacy%20is%20the%20ability,management%2C%20budgeti
ng%2C%20and%20investing.
EduResearchMatters, Arts-based teaching of literacy. Retrieved on
https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?tag=arts-based-teaching-of-literacy
Chris Drew, PhD, 7 Key Features of 21st Century Learning. Retrieved on
https://helpfulprofessor.com/21st-century-learning/
Teacher Vision, Visualizing. Retrieved on https://www.teachervision.com/reading-
comprehension/visualizing
21st Century Education, Multicultural and Global Literacy. Retrieved on
https://21stcenturyliteracy214.wordpress.com/test-2/
Course Hero, Social Literacy. Retrieved on https://www.coursehero.com/file/54905218/SOCIAL-
LITERACY-2pptx/#question
Course Hero, Lesson 3 Globalization and Multicultural Literacy. Retrieved on
https://www.coursehero.com/file/48148889/Lesson-3-Globalization-and-multicultural-
literacytest-
Amy Menzi (2017), MAKE SYNTHESIZING EASY WITH THESE SIMPLE STRATEGIES.
Retrieved on https://teachingideas4u.com/2017/10/make-synthesizing-easy-with-these.html

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