Literacy Across the Curriculum

Study Notes

Literacy across the curriculum refers to the integration of literacy skills into all subjects and areas of the curriculum, not just language arts or English classes.
It recognizes that literacy is essential for learning in all areas, including math, science, social studies, and other subjects.

Cross-curricular approach: Literacy skills are taught and practiced across all subjects, not just in language arts or English classes.
Functional literacy: Students learn to apply literacy skills in a variety of contexts, beyond just reading and writing.
Contextualized learning: Literacy skills are taught in the context of the subject matter, rather than in isolation.

Improved academic achievement: Students who are literate in multiple subjects tend to perform better academically.
Increased engagement: When students can access and understand subject matter, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated.
Better preparation for life: Literacy across the curriculum prepares students for the literacy demands of higher education, the workforce, and civic life.

Content area literacy strategies: Teachers use strategies such as graphic organizers, vocabulary instruction, and summarizing to help students access and understand subject matter.
Disciplinary literacy: Teachers teach literacy skills specific to their subject area, such as reading graphs in math or analyzing primary sources in history.
Collaboration and planning: Teachers across subjects work together to plan and integrate literacy instruction.

Teacher preparation and support: Teachers may need professional development to learn new strategies and teach literacy across the curriculum.
Assessment and evaluation: Assessing student literacy skills across subjects can be complex and requires careful planning.
Time and resource constraints: Integrating literacy instruction across the curriculum may require significant time and resources.

Literacy across the curriculum is the integration of literacy skills into all subjects and areas of the curriculum.
It recognizes that literacy is essential for learning in all areas, including math, science, social studies, and other subjects.

The cross-curricular approach involves teaching literacy skills across all subjects.
Functional literacy involves applying literacy skills in various contexts beyond reading and writing.
Contextualized learning involves teaching literacy skills in the context of the subject matter.

Literacy across the curriculum leads to improved academic achievement.
It increases engagement and motivation in students when they can access and understand subject matter.
It prepares students for the literacy demands of higher education, the workforce, and civic life.

Content area literacy strategies involve using strategies like graphic organizers, vocabulary instruction, and summarizing to help students access subject matter.
Disciplinary literacy involves teaching literacy skills specific to the subject area, such as reading graphs in math or analyzing primary sources in history.
Collaboration and planning involve teachers across subjects working together to plan and integrate literacy instruction.

Teacher preparation and support require professional development to learn new strategies and teach literacy across the curriculum.
Assessing student literacy skills across subjects requires careful planning and can be complex.
Integrating literacy instruction across the curriculum may require significant time and resources.