In Literacy Lies Power and Privilege

Last week, I had a chance to attend the Boothbay Literacy Institute with master-teachers like Kylene Beers, Bob Probst, Penny Kittle, Donalyn Miller and Lester Laminack.

Boothbay is unlike any other conference I have ever attended because it is intentional in creating a space where there is time to have in-depth conversation about learning and teaching. Unlike most conferences where attendees and presenters are rushing from session to session, Boothbay invites you to be still, be reflective, and be observant. The scenery alone makes you stop and pause to appreciate what is around you.

Through the next few days, I’ll post several lessons I’ve gleaned from this experience and reflect on how they might shape my practice.

Let’s start with this big message from Kylene and Bob:

To get us to think a bit more critically about literacy, Kylene asked us to write down two words we associate with literacy. I wrote down:

and then she transitioned to this message:

Two words that we should associate with literacy but we often don't. #BBLit14 via @KyleneBeers pic.twitter.com/Mt828dp4gJ

— Meenoo Rami (@MeenooRami) June 23, 2014

I am deeply invested in making sense of this message from Kylene and Bob because it resonates with me as a teacher working along side my students to make the world a more just and equitable place. Where opportunity is not a privilege for few but a gateway for all people. We cannot think about literacy without thinking about critical literacy around the issues of power and privilege. It was a good reminder to go back to the roots of my practice and think about why I was invested in teaching in the first place. Thanks Kylene and Bob!

Thank you for reading this post. This is my contribution to the #engchat’s ongoing #100words100days challenge. Hope you’ll start writing and share your post as well.