Theories and Models of Literacy: Final Reflection

    This course was a perfect combination of theory and practice for me. Just before the semester at City College began, I started working as a Writing Assistant in the CUNY Start program at LaGuardia Community College. I was able to see so many of the theories and trends we discussed in T and M play out in the classroom and I also saw parallels between the methods Professor Gleason used in our graduate class and the teaching tools we use in the Reading and Writing program at LAGCC. In both settings the students are from diverse cultural backgrounds, and in both settings these differences are not only acknowledged but also appreciated as contributing to an interesting dynamic. There are vocalized and transparent goals to the teaching and learning that takes place in both classrooms and an underlying respect that shapes the pedagogical dynamic.

    I am grateful that Professor Gleason reduced the number of writing assignments from the original syllabus for the course. This allowed for more time to complete the vast amount of reading and careful discussion board posts on varying topics. I feel lucky to have learned about such brilliant theorists as Freire, Heath, Gee, and Purcell-Gates, to name a few. The videos of Adam Banks addressing the CCCC and the Freire interview were powerful and will stick with me. The incorporation of technology into the curriculum in the form of digital assignments and videos is still new to me and I am getting more comfortable with these types of assignments and presentations. For that I am also grateful. The visit to the Rare Books Library at Columbia University was also a highlight of the course; it set the stage for learning about literacy from its early beginnings and helped contextualize the readings for the remainder of the course.  

    On a closing note, Professor Gleason and I have discussed possible topics for future L & L courses, and I would like to add a course on Freire to the list. I feel that we only grazed the surface and I would love to delve deeper into his work and explore the implications and applications of his theories on social justice and power dynamics in education. 

Thanks for another great semester!

Emily