K-6+Literacy

=__**Abstract:**__= ===Chapter 3, TPCK in K-6 Literacy Education, focuses around the new literacy for the 21st century. Prior to the digital age, literacy was known as reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking critically. Now, literacy must also include informational literacy, computer literacy, and film and video literacy. The chapter outlines the different knowledge needed in relation to literacy content, literacy pedagogy, and technological content for literacy. Many examples were given in the technological content section including [|digital storytelling], [|predictable text for fluency], and [|composing written texts]. In conclusion, the chapter is careful to mention that teachers must think critically about their use of technology in literacy instruction because the definition of what it means to be literate in today's society is forever changing.=== = = = = =__**Synthesis:**__=

__Thoughts... __
The definition of what it means to be literate is constantly changing. Being literate no longer means that one can read and [|write]. It now involves information literacy, computer literacy, along with film and video literacy.

Literacy instruction is a moving target and instructional strategies must evolve with the changes in technology. Consequently, teachers need to stay up to date with the changes in technology.

Teachers must know when it is necessary to integrate technology in their [|literacy instruction] and must do so in ways that [|enhance learning], and not necessarily just to engage students.

Teachers must be able to evaluate technology resources in order to use them effectively in the classroom.

__Concerns: __
There is a lack of [|professional development] that revolves around technology. Whose responsibility is it to keep these teachers up to date?

Students at high school level that are reading way below grade level and therefore, everybody is a literacy teacher.

Some seasoned teachers do not want to integrate or use technology. They have been teaching and doing things their way for so long and they want to keep it that way.

__Quotes from the Class: __
[|Don:] //**This is not a new issue.** When word processors came into wide spread use it allowed students to concentrate more on the content they were trying to write about and less on the mechanics and trying to not make a mistake for fear of having to start over or be messy in their final draft. //

[|Jason:] //Basic literacy instruction and **the active integration of appropriate literacy instructional practices** are common place in my classroom because, as I learned the hard way, it is the only way to make my material accessible to a staggering number of my students. //

[|Heather:] //I found that **the idea of technologies changing so quickly was even evident in this book.** For example, SubEthaEdit was mentioned and it would clearly be outdated by GoogleDocs or Edmodo today since students can share and edit documents that way in real time and for free. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|Jessica:] //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">In my classroom, of mostly sophomores, **I have found google docs to be a powerful tool to promote collaboration** in the process of writing and creating presentations, peer-editing, and a way to give students access to their work at home. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|Karl:] //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“Preservice teachers need: “to be critical consumers of technology, to be thoughtful users who question, reflect and refract on the best times and ways to integrate technology.” //

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">I felt this was an important quote because it emphasizes that **the point is not simply to use technology for technology's sake,** **but rather to use it when it is in the best interest of improving student learning**. This can be a complicated task, as you must account for not only PK, CK, and TK, and TPCK, but also the unique situations of your classroom. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|Maryam:] //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Print technologies are no longer adequate, in and of themselves**, students will not be engaged or motivated if their only resources are the teacher and a book. Teachers need to be taught how to use these powerful new technologies that can transform learning. //