May is “Get Caught Reading” Month! This is a great opportunity to reflect on how you can support literacy in your classroom.

May is “<a href="https://getcaughtreading.org/" target="_blank">Get Caught Reading</a>” Month! This is a great opportunity to reflect on how you can support literacy in your classroom. “Get Caught Reading” strives to promote the fun of reading through distributing posters featuring celebrities and beloved characters reading their favorite books. Whatever your role in the classroom, literacy is an important focus for all educators. 

Strong literacy skills are linked to improved outcomes across all sorts of academic and life measures. As <a href="http://theeducationhub.org/" target="_blank">TheEducationHub.org</a> explains, “In order to be able to think analytically and critically, to continually learn, to make effective decisions, or to be cognitively flexible, it is essential that one has the ability to engage with, understand and apply the ever increasing flow of information and knowledge that surrounds them.”1 Students must not only learn to read, but read to learn. Strong literacy skills are essential for them to be able to navigate the world and be able to process, understand, and respond to the information they encounter. By supporting your students’ literacy, you will empower them to grow into independent adults.

 Students of all ages can strengthen their literacy skills. One 2011 early childhood education study noted, “encouraging conversations during a book-reading session provides opportunities for all children, including children with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to participate and feel included.”2 These conversations can include different types of prompts such as completion (finishing sentences), recall, open-ended questions, and distancing (relating the text to one’s own life). Including preschool-aged children in the reading process can boost their literacy skills, giving them a better chance for success later in life. 

It is also important to consider ways to support literacy for older students who may be struggling. “Students lacking previous experiences with skills such as print awareness, alphabetic principle, and phonemic awareness need supplementary instruction to ensure they do not lag behind their peers,”3 according to an article from ReadingRockets.org. Offer opportunities for students to build positive connections with reading and be sure to meet them where they are so they can progress. Here are a few great resources to help you support literacy in your classroom:

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/activities/articles/25-activities-reading-and-writing-fun" target="_blank">25 Activities for Reading and Writing Fun</a> </li>
 <li><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/6-strategies-to-support-english-language-learners?" target="_blank">CCE Blog: 6 Strategies to Support English Language Learners</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.esparklearning.com/blog/hands-on-activities-teaching-reading/" target="_blank">15 Hands-On Reading Activities for Kinesthetic Learners</a> </li>
</ul>

 Literacy today applies to more than just reading books. With the increased use of artificial intelligence in and out of the classroom, educators have begun to incorporate AI literacy in their teaching. While this new dimension of literacy is still developing, a 2021 study notes “AI literacy possesses basic competencies to know and understand, use and apply, as well as evaluate and create AI. People need to equip themselves cognitively for future technological challenges in their workplaces. At the same time, it is important to foster their social responsibility and ethical awareness to use AI for societal good.”4 Introducing students to these ideas and developing best practices will be important responsibilities for educators. Get a head start on beginning to address AI literacy with your students by exploring the resources below:

<ul>
 <li> <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/ai-literacy-students/" target="_blank">Guiding Students to Develop AI Literacy</a> </li>
 <li> <a href="https://www.gettingsmart.com/2024/06/25/make-ai-literacy-a-priority-with-these-free-resources/" target="_blank">Make AI Literacy a Priority with These Free Resources</a> </li>
 <li><a href="https://www.commonsense.org/education/collections/ai-literacy-lessons-for-grades-6-12" target="_blank"> AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6-12</a> </li>
</ul>

Any time of year is a great time to level up your students’ literacy skills. But reading isn’t just for the kiddos! If you’re looking to boost your own literacy skills, here are some great resources just for you!

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/blogs/articles/adult-literacy-better-reading-comprehension-how-to-speed-read-and-some-life-changing-literature-to-improve-your-life" target="_blank">Adult Literacy: Better Reading Comprehension, How to Speed-Read, and Some Life-Changing Literature to Improve Your Life</a> </li>
 <li> <a href="https://everyday-reading.com/books-to-get-back-into-reading/" target="_blank">39 Books to Try If You’re Getting Back into Reading</a> </li>
 <li><a href="https://www.vox.com/even-better/23820065/how-to-start-reading-books-habit-hobby-audiobook" target="_blank">A Reading Guide for Grown-ups Who Don’t Read</a> </li>
</ul>

<h2>References:</h2>
<ol style="margin-left:25px;">
 <li>Howley-Rouse, A. (2023, September 28). Why is literacy important?. THE EDUCATION HUB. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/why-is-literacy-important/ </li>
 
 <li>Dennis, L. R., & Horn, E. (2011). Strategies for supporting Early Literacy Development. Young Exceptional Children, 14(3), 29–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250611420553 </li>

 <li> The Access Center. (n.d.). Literacy-rich environments. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/classroom-management/articles/literacy-rich-environments </li>

 <li> Ng, D. T., Leung, J. K., Chu, S. K., & Qiao, M. S. (2021). Conceptualizing ai literacy: An exploratory review. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100041 </li>
</ol>

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