“Teaching children to read was one thing; keeping them interested in reading was something else.” ~Marva Collins
Literacy development and instruction taught through a culturally responsive lens have long been a hot topic. Administrators know by the increasing number of professional development programs emerging, and educators know by the growing number of new strategies that come across their desks. No matter the new thing on the block, what must be considered no matter what is the foundation. It must be understood that reading fluently can’t happen without literacy development.
Literacy development can be a confusing concept. As an educational entity, we’ve always referred to it as a design scheme that perpetuates the ongoing indoctrination of communication tools. Centering sensory, the objectives always ask big questions. First, who is/are the learner(s)? Second, what is known about their learning style?
Once those questions are entertained, then the magic begins. As noted above, readers must have a firm grasp of how communication benefits them and their quality of life. Through a series of interactive activities, early learners need to participate in modeling exercises that mirror authentic socio-cultural context. Hence, educators who have firsthand cultural experiences are oft the best fits. The ones that identify with practices and traditions in a way that supports lesson presentation genuinely and altruistically.
Imagiread recently announced the release of a set of reading strategies to support culturally responsive literacy development instruction. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing a video series that expands upon the concepts above. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @Imagiread for notifications.