Literacy Timeline

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TV shows

My evolution understanding Literacy

Chilean educational context

La Jardinera (The gardener)

Illustrated by Paloma Valdivia (2018) and text by Violeta Parra

Comic Strip "Gaturro"

Syllabaries and Calligraphy Textbooks

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(Click any show to explore their connection to my literacy)

TV shows

I lived in USA until I was 4, and these programs not only helped develop my cognitive or linguistic skills but also served as an introduction to culture and society, both in the country I was living in (USA) and outside of it (Chile and Spanish culture).

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Literacy for me

For me, literacy extends beyond reading and writing, also including listening, speaking, understanding and use of symbols (letters, words, and icons), and other non-verbal forms of communication. While these two first skills are not exceptional in my definition, they provide the foundation upon which different forms of literacy are built. As Faggella-Luby et al. (2012) note, the inadequacy of disciplinary literacy instruction alone, suggesting that foundational skills in reading and writing are crucial for proficiency adolescent literacy outcomes. Most importantly, literacy is a ongoing process that emphasizes the application of these skills in real-life contexts, enabling for effective communication and interaction within society. The form of these communications can be presented through various formats, such as printed texts, digital content, images, audio recordings, and gestures. This perspective aligns with the theory of multiliteracies (Cope, & Kalantzis, 2005), which recognizes the significance of diverse forms of expression and gives space to contemporary forms of communication and language (Cazden et al., 1996)

Educational institutions in Chile historically have focused on decontextualized literacy teaching, isolating reading and writing and other forms of communication from real-world and significant contexts and situations. The idea of decontextualized texts, simplifies the concept of literacy, often leading children to believe that literacies are only the ones produced and seen in school, limited to skills of reading and writing, while neglecting other forms of communication present in children's daily lives. Barton et al. (1999) support this idea, mentioning: “socially powerful institutions, such as education, tend to support dominant literacy practices” (p. 11), overshadowing informal or vernacular literacies, which exist in people's everyday lives and are still present in children's lives. (Barton et al., 1999)

Sesame Street: Fiesta!

Published 1985 This children's TV series, which I had on VHS. This series included educational content while incorporating Spanish language, showcasing traditions and culture, dances, and songs from diverse Spanish-speaking countries.

As a teacher, I now understand why I didn’t get some jokes in this comic as a kid. The words and cultural references can vary in countries even sharing the same language.

Comic Strip "Gaturro"

At a moment in my life, I started enjoying the comic Gaturro, an Argentine comic strip featuring a pet cat and his family.

The author tries to create a comic for today’s digital-native children who bring a “significant audiovisual culture, considering influences of TV, internet, video games, while also linking to, letters, words, and onomatopoeias [found in comics]” (Emol., 2010). By using contemporary drawing style and references to Internet, Facebook, Web 2.0, he tries to encourage reading (Emol., 2010).

As a teacher I see this as a valuable introduction to the specific context of school and what I would see, do, or act in relation with what was acceptable in that specific environment. Therefore, it not only teaches educational content but also how to apply these learnings and how to act in society.

Blue Takes You to School

Published 2003 This educational series features Blue, a puppy and a human host guiding and interacting with young viewers. My parents bought me this CD when I was about to start school, and I loved it. In addition to it`s educational approach, it also engages children to the school environment, without the need of really being there. It introduces important social skills like sharing, following rules and getting in line without cutting in. But also, it familiarizes kids to specific educational contexts or “social events” (Barton et al., 1999), such as reading time, break time, assistance and circle time.

Dora the Explorer

Published 2000 Dora the Explorer is an animated TV series about Dora and her monkey. The show includes as the story goes on, language and problem-solving with an interactive relation with viewers. It uses simple, repetitive language and questions. Also, incorporates English and Spanish words, to promote bilingualism, showing as well the effort put by my parents to keep my two languages fluent.

These types of texts, where the ones I hated the most, I found them to be repetitive, decontextualized and so unattractive as a young learner. However, these are the ones that really influenced me to change my view of what I now believe literacy and literacy teaching should be like.

Syllabaries and Calligraphy Textbooks

La Jardinera (The gardener)

The book combines multiliteracies in the form of an illustrated book to engage with younger audiences, effectively bridging traditional song lyrics of Violeta that can be heard while reading, accompanied with visual illustrations and text to follow along.

I discovered this book last year, based on the lyrics of a 1954 song by the renowned Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra. The book combines illustrations with the song's lyrics to tell the story of a woman healing from heartbreak through gardening (FCE, s.f.). Although this book wasn't present in my literacy learning and development as a student in school, it has contributed to my understanding and development of literacy as a future teacher. Every Chilean knows this song or recognizes the “Cueca” genre, as an important cultural symbol.

Calligraphy Textbook

I vividly remember spending almost the whole class period practicing joined writing. When I reached my teacher to show her my completed calligraphy writing sheet she looked at it and erased the half of it for me to repeat all over again.