There have been many debates about
the meaning of literacy in our society but a commonly
cited source for a working definition of literacy
is the one given from the 1992 National Adult Literacy
Survey:
Literacy -
using printed and written information to function
in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop
one’s knowledge and potential. There are three
types of literacy ranked into 5 levels, with Level
1 being the lowest literacy level and Level 5 the
highest. Individuals identified at Level 1 are termed
functionally illiterate; they cannot perform basic
tasks such as locating a particular intersection on
a map, reading transportation schedules, or comparing
prices on two items at a grocery store. Although people
in Level 2 may be able to perform basic tasks, they
lack the important ability to locate and synthesize
information.
Family Literacy - refers
to a continuum of programs that address the intergenerational
nature of literacy.2 The essence of family literacy
is that parents are supported as being the first people
to introduce their children to print. Family Literacy
programs usually have some combination of the following
components3:
® Adult Literacy Education
® Early Childhood Education
® Parent and Child Time Together
® Parent Time
Emergent Literacy –
a term usually used to suggest that literacy development
is a category of language development that occurs
as a child is exposed to print. This is a gradual
process.
Reading Readiness –
a term usually used to denote that a child has mastered
the prerequisites necessary to participate in reading
and writing instruction.
ESOL – English
for speakers of other languages. This population may
or may not be literate in their primary language.
