At a recent Literacy conference, I was asked to draw a picture representing my hopes for 'Literacy across the curriculum' in my school. I drew something like this:
The black dots are teachers. The red dots are students. The arrows are literacy knowledge.
The idea behind this doodle is that the teaching of literacy should not all come from one source (granted, it may do to begin with), but methods of teaching and addressing literacy issues should come from all aspects of school. Approaches to literacy should be a two-way process between staff and students.
My role as whole school literacy co-ordinator begins properly this academic year, and I am very conscious that I am based in the English department. I think one of my biggest challenges will be to change the mindset that literacy is solely an 'English' concern, instead to promote it as an area that is relevant and important to every subject. I don't think this problem is exclusive to my school. Just this morning I saw a promotional advert on Twitter where history, geography and PE were listed as discrete subjects and areas of discussion; however, English was "Literacy/English". Surely the promotion of Literacy as a sub-section of English is an attitude which needs to be addressed within education and educational discussion. If we don't distinguish between the two, to ensure that literacy becomes a whole-school concern, how can we expect pupils to see literacy as something which is important in all aspects of their studies, not just in English?
Personally, I think my starting point must be a "What is Literacy?" type question. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what constitutes literacy: is it just SPaG? Is it just technical accuracy? Is it just knowing subject-specific terminology? Is it being able to read? Is it being to talk about what's been read? I think the broadness of 'Literacy' needs to be highlighted before asking people to promote it within their subject.
I think, also, there is some great literacy practice out there: within other departments in my own school and across the country. Despite this moan, I am really looking forward to having the literacy discussion with people.
