What does literacy look like in my community and why should I care?

Literacy comes in many forms and serves many purposes. It could be a novel to provide entertainment, a poster that holds information about an event, or a letter mailed to a loved one. These forms and purposes will vary across individuals and even across communities. I can see this when thinking about my own community and how it is different from others. The literacy in my community looks like books, journals, calendars, television shows, music, movies, advertising, social media, photographs, notes, signs, posters, and conversations. The purposes they serve include entertainment, providing information, organization, communication, reflection, reminding, and relaxation. It is important to think about what literacy looks like in your community because it allows us to consider how it differs from other communities and individuals. As teachers, we can use this information and understanding in order to provide our students with experiences that are meaningful and constructive based on what literacy looks like in their communities. We can also help our students to make connections between home and school by understanding the types of literacy they are surrounded by in their communities.