Multiliteracies: Beyond Text and the Written Word emphasizes literacies which are, or have been, common in American culture, but which tend to be ignored in more traditional discussions of literacy—specifically textual literacy. By describing multiliteracies or alternative literacies, and how they function, we have tried to develop a broader understanding of what it means to be literate in American culture. The 39 topical essays/chapters included in this work represent a sampler of both old and new literacies that are clearly at work in American culture, and which go beyond more traditional textual forms and models. Multiliteracies: Beyond Text and the Written Word asks: How is the experience of students changing outside of traditional schools, and how do these changes potentially shape the work they do, how they learn, and the lives they lead in schools and less formal settings? This work assumes that our increasing diversity in a postmodern and increasingly global society brings with it demands for a broader understanding of what it means to be literate. Multiliteracy “literally” becomes a necessity. This work is a guidebook to the new reality, which is increasingly so important to schools and the more general culture.

This book is a rich, yet highly accessible volume that details an exciting and much-needed inquiry into the notion of literacy: what it is, why it is, and how it might be framed most effectively for 21st century education. The chapters unfold in a creative interplay of practice and theory. Narey’s insightful questioning into the socio-historical-cultural implications of “literacy as empowerment” establishes the critical context, while Kerry-Moran’s examination of the burgeoning literacy landscape reveals challenges for teacher education. Drawing upon classic and cutting-edge theories, Narey builds a provocative and powerful case for a 21st century construct of literacy as sense-making: sense as relative to the senses (i.e., sight, hearing) and sense as making meaning. Her innovative model of the literacy event opens up a range of potential foci for analysis and facilitates her teasing out of two critical areas for instruction: sensory perception and aesthetic knowledge. This theoretical sense-making lens is applied to Kerry-Moran’s teacher education classroom as the authors reflect upon further development. As a timely original and thought-provoking work, this slim volume of big ideas promises to be a valuable resource for teacher educators and other scholars who seek a clear and cohesive frame for literacy in 21st century education. This is a very well written scholarly text that provides a new and important theory of 21st century literacy. Narey’s sketches of literacy as sense-making are laid out in logical form, building upon researched and referenced sources to ground her ideas and offering the reader information, examples and new insights. In addition to providing many significant perspectives underpinning her new theory, Narey provides excellent historical and current explanations about literacy from highly respected researchers in the field. The inclusion of a practical application of Narey’s conceptual/theoretical framework to Kerry-Moran's example of an instructional unit in a teacher education course is helpful to understanding the theory in practice. The references throughout the work are extensive, comprehensive and very well documented. This text, Sense-making: Problematizing Constructs of Literacy for 21st Century Education, contributes original thinking to the field of literacy and learning and would be an excellent resource for literacy and language professors or instructors in a post-graduate or professional development program. Penny Silvers, Professor of Education, Dominican University, USA

Using the concept of multiliteracies and multimodality, this book provides foundation knowledge about the new and continuously changing literacies of the 21st century. It details the five semiotic systems (linguistic, visual, auditory, gestural and spatial) and how they contribute to the reading and writing of increasingly complex and dynamic texts that are delivered by live, paper or digital technologies. One of the main tenets of the book is that social, cultural and technological developments will continue to give rise to changing literate practices around texts and communication, requiring a rethinking of classroom practices that are employed in the teaching of literacy. Therefore, the role of talk, together with traditional lesson structures, is examined and the concept of dialogic talk is introduced as a way of moving towards an effective pedagogy for the teaching and learning of multiliteracies and multimodality. The book also demonstrates that children’s literature can provide a bridge between old and new literacies and be an effective vehicle for introducing the five semiotic systems to all age groups. Comprehensive and accessible, this book addresses the issue of translating complex theories, research and concepts into effective practice, by providing the reader with four avenues for reflecting upon and implementing the ideas it contains: Reflection Strategies that enable the reader to gauge their understanding of key concepts; Theory into Practice tasks that enable the trialling of specific theoretical concepts in the classroom; Auditing instruments provide specific tasks related to assessment of student performance and evaluation of teacher pedagogy; QR codes immediately link the reader to multimodal texts and further references that illustrate and enhance the concepts being developed.

The Handbook of Research on Teaching Literacy Through the Communicative and Visual Arts, Volume II brings together state-of-the-art research and practice on the evolving view of literacy as encompassing not only reading, writing, speaking, and listening, but also the multiple ways through which learners gain access to knowledge and skills. It forefronts as central to literacy education the visual, communicative, and performative arts, and the extent to which all of the technologies that have vastly expanded the meanings and uses of literacy originate and evolve through the skills and interests of the young. A project of the International Reading Association, published and distributed by Routledge/Taylor & Francis. Visit http://www.reading.org for more information about Internationl Reading Associationbooks, membership, and other services.

This volume makes an important contribution to our understanding of literacy as a multi-faceted, complexly situated activity. Contributing authors represent a wide variety of theoretical and research perspectives. Each chapters provides a fresh perspective into a different site for literate behavior and relationships. Freeing literacy from a specific site or set of practices allows us to see it as a way to consider the experiences, memories, and histories of those who use literacy to make meaning in their lives.

"This book will help readers understand the ways in which literacy is changing around the world, and to keep up to date with literacy research and reporting techniques"--Provided by publisher.