Re-envision Literacy Instruction

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development.”- Kofi Annan. Teaching is a very strenuous profession. Teaching therefore necessitates a lot of new strategies, technologies, and ideas which can make this task easier. A reimagined education system is one that leaves no student behind. It is clear that the current half-cocked approaches to literacy instruction have not worked. Yet, for some strange reason, it is business as usual. Regrettably, the education system continues to graduate scores of students who are not literate at both the primary and secondary levels. Yet policymakers continue to apply the same methodology while hoping for a different outcome. The time has come to re-envision our approach to literacy by examining another dimension regarding how we tackle the issue of literacy, especially when it relates to our boys. The current education system is not male-friendly. The curriculum does not take into account the unique learning styles of our boys. As a result, many boys continue to fall through the cracks. Globally, there is serious trend of boy’s underachievement in reading. The truth is most boys are not cultured to read for enjoyment. It there means that the gendered socialization approach that has become commonplace needs to be interrogated so that boys will appreciate the value of reading. Cartoons in Teaching and Learning. Given that boys are wired differently from girls and have different interests it is clear that one size approach to literacy will not work. A great cartoon is truly worth a thousand words. In fact, exploring how cartoons operate has relevance across the education system. Cartoons were previously meant for the purpose of entertainment only. But these days’ cartoons are being extensively used for other purposes as well. Cartoons are now being used for education. Cartoons have been abundantly used as a teaching aid for a very long time. They have made learning an easier and a better experience for the students. Cartoons have made humdrum subjects fascinating for the students. Cartoons bring to life the dull pages of literary works and the hidden secrets of the subject. Cartoons are very eye-catching. The cartoon images seen by the children leave an impression in their minds. They tend to remember what they saw in the form of cartoons, or what actions were performed by the cartoons or anything else. Revisit Literacy Education. In the conventional teaching methodology, knowledge was imparted to the students by means of a teacher-centered systematic conversation or a discussion. However, this new generation of students who are digitally wired requires an approach to teaching that is outside the box. Gone are the days when students were passive bystanders. Today’s students are more engaging and are willing to challenge their teachers across various disciplines. The new generation of children wants to scrutinize almost everything. Sometimes, this is achieved through the use of cartoons or comic strips. Cartoons have proven themselves to be very advantageous for educating children. The vocabulary of students can be improved by the use of cartoons. While watching cartoon movies, children can learn a lot of new words. They can learn their meanings and how to use them in sentences. Students may also be able to learn how voice tones or gesture can change the meaning of an entire sentence. They may also learn what words to use on what occasions. There are many topics which cannot be theoretically understood. Consequently, practical experiences or real-life examples are required. Unquestionably, comic strips can help a lot in this situation. The comic strip can be easily used to narrate a story. With the use of cartoon characters a story comes to life and the students will be able to more forcefully and comfortably understand the various subjects. Without a doubt comic strips can assist with students’ concentration and will lead to better comprehension. Cartoons can Develop Public Speaking . A cartoon comic strip has a lot of characters in it with different individual dialogues. A teacher can assign each of the characters to the students and tell them to perform a play on the comic strip. This will boost the student’s confidence. The students will get a chance to speak or perform in front of the whole class. A cartoon infused curriculum will enhance their speaking skills. Public speaking is fast becoming one of those skill sets that are critical to navigate today’s complex world. In fact, many examining bodies, such as the City and Guilds English Language exam include a Speaking and Listening element. Students are required to speak in front of the examiners and fellow students on issues regarding the theme of the examination. The use of cartoons and comic strips can assist our young men, especially to prove their hardihood and courage in public speaking. Boy-Friendly Classrooms. For the most part classrooms are generally better suited for girls who are more likely to remain seated while taking notes. Teachers tended to view the natural assets that boys bring to learning impulsivity, single-task focus, spatial-kinesthetic learning, and physical aggression as problems. Boys at times need some space to physically move about; this of course must be controlled movement that is not disruptive to the operation of the teaching process. With boys neurological strengths, keeping them energized and attentive will more facilitate our boys. Additionally, attention must be paid to students who learn best through spatial visual representation. The term literacy simply means the ability to read and write; however, there is nothing simple about it. Humans are not born with reading and writing skills; it is something that is taught to us by our teachers, parents, and peers. As tactile learners boys need more hands on approach concerning their learning. Education systems globally would benefit greatly from having more male literacy teachers in order to inspire and provide motivation for our boys. Spatial Literacy. Spatial literacy has been defined as “the competent and confident use of maps, mapping, and spatial thinking to address ideas, situations, and problems with daily life, society, and the world around us” (Sinton 2014). This definition has been provided by Diana Sinton, a geographer at Cornell University, who refers to spatial thinking as “the ability to visualize and interpret location, distance, direction, relationships, change, and movement over space”. Similar to the term literacy, individuals are not born spatially literate. The skills of spatial literacy and spatial thinking are learned over time, through study and practice, and are culturally defined. However, what distinguishes spatial literacy from literacy is that our world is currently experiencing a dramatic paradigm shift in how we use maps, how we produce and use spatial data, and the availability of ways we can harness spatial thinking to address the challenges facing our changing world. This teaching style can nurture students' imaginations because visual-spatial learners often form vivid mental pictures as they read and listen. Diverse Learning Needs. However, by acknowledging and catering to the differences in how boys are socialized educators can close the literacy gap. Excellent and successful teaching demands the application of numerous devices, techniques and strategies not only to achieve desired outcomes, but because variety, itself, is essential to reach students with various learning styles and abilities. Teaching and learning should be a fun and engaging journey. There needs to be a purposeful and calculated approach to improve boys’ academic performance. There is also an urgent need to revisit the Pedagogical methods being employed concerning literacy instruction. Importantly, receiving a few hours training does not make one into a literacy or reading specialist. As a specialized discipline a literacy teacher requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in literacy or in a related field. These inexpensive and rarely used strategies of cartoons and animation have so many advantages. Interestingly, “The Boy and the Heron”, a fantasy tale about a boy grieving his deceased mother won Best Animated Feature Film at the recently held 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood. The Japanese anime film was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Unquestionably cartoons create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for teaching and learning to take place. There is an urgent need to revisit literacy in order to meet the changing needs of our students. In the words of Ann Lewin- Benham, spatial intelligence is virtually left out of formal education. In kindergarten we give children blocks and sand with which to build. Then we take those things away for the next twelve years of their education and expect kids to be architects and engineers. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #literacy