Reading Foundations 210E

DEFINITIONS OF LITERACY: (see our home page on this site also)

Why is this an exploration?  The topic is one with which you are familiar, but perhaps there are a few strands that you may have missed.  As Miss Pierre (Valsyn) asked in the Introduction to her class blog/journal:

"During this first week of class, we explored different definitions of literacy and the concept of "Multiple Literacies". After all that you have read, what is your favourite definition of literacy? Do you accept that literacy is competence, knowledge and skills/ know-how and awareness in any given area?  One writer asked the question: "Have we stretched the definition of 'literacy' too far?" What is your view? Have we diluted the power of the concept of literacy?" Read more to find out.

• On this issue, read the ongoing discussion in Ms. Noel's Forum on the Dokeos site.

Definitions of Literacy--La Sierra University  also  What is Literacy? (Mosaic)  &The Image and the Word--Nadine Gordimer (UNESCO)

ISSUES IN EARLY AND EMERGENT LITERACY:  Please study the following  and download all that you may need for future use--as we wrap up Emergent and Early Lit.

The sites below should provide food for thought on this very important topic:

Phonemic and phonological awareness --is there a difference? Why is instruction necessary?Phonemic awareness instruction    Phonemic Awareness resource site

What is Phonological awareness?  from Indiana .edu

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Here are interactive books online for young children:  Starfall.com and a list of

Phonics resources

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Finally wrap-up with the Literacy needs of Emergent and early readers--CIERA

MANNY D. MANICOU AND THE GOLDEN GAUVAS

By J. Maraj, B. Lochan, D. Rampersad, K. Douglas, D. Lakhan

Once upon a time, there was a manicou named Manny. Manny loved guavas. Unfortunately, the only tree with guavas was in Leelawatie Lioness’ yard. “Ma Lion” tended her guava tree and her entire garden with loving care. She paid special attention to all her fruit trees and she hated thieves.

To protect her trees, Ma Lion hired Sweetness. Sweetness was a huge, sour pitbull. After sweetness began to work for Ma lion, no one dared to enter the garden. The fruit trees grew huge and were all laden with fruits. The guava tree was covered with huge, sweet, perfect globes of succulent golden fruit.

Manny would often find himself strolling by just to look at these guavas. Manny knew he could not have any guavas. He tried bananas, but he was not satisfied, he tried oranges, but he was not satisfied. He tried watermelons, pineapple, plums and even pommecythere, but still he was not satisfied. Manny needed guavas.

One moonlight night, his cravings got the better of him. His belly grumbling, he crept over the fence of Ma Lion’s garden. Looking neither left nor right, he headed straight for the guava tree. Just as he was about to touch the lowest guava on the tree, he heard a growl. Sweetness was right behind him. In two twos, Manny flew up the tree and clung to the branches, as sweetness circled the tree. “Come down now yuh big thief!” shouted sweetness, “I have something for yuh! Come down!”

Manny was truly terrified. His cravings for guavas forgotten, all he could think now was how to get away.

After several minutes in the tree, Manny had an idea. He pulled out his cell-phone and called his friend, Melinda Meow, a cat from down the street. He quickly explained his situation and she agreed to help him.

Melinda came up the street and stopped at the fence, “Aye Sweetness,” she purred, “what you doing there in the garden?”

Sweetness stopped circling the tree and growled, “Ah ketch ah thief, but he eh want to come down the tree!”

Melinda called out, “Hear what, that thief cannot come down. And look I have some bake and smoke herring. Your favourite.”

Sweetness’ weakness truly was bake and smoke herring. He could not help himself. He walked over to the fence and Melinda opened her bag. The smell of hot bake and smoke herring had him dribbling.

This was Manny’s plan. He gathered up himself to flee from the tree when he remembered where he was. He quickly snatched as many as the golden fruit around him as he could, stuffed them into his pockets and scampered down the tree, across the fence and straight home.

Safely there, he washed all his loot and sat in his favourite chair to enjoy them. They tasted as good as he had dreamed and he ate every one. He sighed and lay back. “Those were great. I wonder how I can get some more.”