Transitioning Literacy from Social Media to the Classroom

 Our kids are using social media. In some cases, it is their first introduction to literacy. Literacy is always surrounded by modern values, customs and influences from the interactions of people in their social network. Social media reflects our roles and relationships. Literacy is a form of behaviour that always takes place within these roles and relationships in social and cultural context. The language used on social media influences our children's language, way of thinking, feelings, values and actions within their social network.     The way language is used online is different to the way it is used in the classroom and this is where kids can struggle. Parents need to be aware of the similarities and differences in order to help their child transition smoothly and succeed at school. Social media use at home has the potential to both help and hinder our kids at school.    Social media has a language specific to a particular context and understandable only to people within that context. Chidlren may not have learnt that meaning varies according to who is reading, when and where they are reading and for what reason. They are not aware of the concept of multiple meanings that vary according to social, cultural and personal differences.  Social media can often depict a one-dimensional view of the way things are in the world without the benefit of a critical mind or personal experience to put things in perspective. A good teacher will help children create subjectivity when using social media, a way of looking at the world that isn't so black and white. We all need to challenge the 'I read it on the internet so it must be true' mentality that is emerging in our kids. Parents can help children transition by explaining the process of questioning and analysis that happens at school and getting them exited about learning that seeing things with a different point of view is an important part of why we go to school. We need to recruit our kids to think subjectively about literacy because they are the next generation of world changers. Talk soonx Michellewww.michelleworthington.com
www.michelleworthington.com