Literacy Through Symbols by Detheridge Tina;Detheridge Mike; & Mike Detheridge

Author:Detheridge, Tina;Detheridge, Mike; & Mike Detheridge [Detheridge, Tina & Detheridge, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: David Fulton Publishers
Published: 2002-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

6 Sharing information

As well as access to both formal and private writing, an important part of familiarisation with reading and writing is having access to a wide range of materials such as newspapers, newsletters and community publications.

Access to community information through newspapers is extremely valuable, provided, of course, that the material is accessible to the intended readers. Many schools are now producing symbol newspapers. Perhaps the most well known of these papers are the ones produced by students at George Hastwell School, who, as far as we know, were the first symbol newspaper writers. The paper is produced each school term, by the senior class. The editorial team decide who is going to gather news, who will be responsible for different tasks, and generally plan and manage the whole production with as little help as possible from their teachers. The result is a lively account of the activities of students and staff as well as other topical items that interest the editors.

George Hastwell School have been publishing their newspaper since 1991. The first one to use symbols was published in 1992, when the technology became available. One copy of each edition is reduced to A4 size, laminated to make it durable, and placed in the library. In this way they are beginning to build up an archive for meeting the requirements of the history curriculum as well as providing interesting relevant reading material.

Figure 4.16 The cover item from the tenth anniversary edition of the George Hastwell newspaper Not all students my be able to read all of the contents, but using photographs, drawings, symbols and words, there will be enough material to engage each student in some of it. News-4-You is a weekly newspaper from the USA that can be downloaded from the web. This has topical items, jokes, stories and activities. It is now available in two levels. The easier level comes with a communication grid to help interaction between the reader and carer. There is more on information-sharing in Chapter 7.

Probably one of the most effective ways that readers will acquire literacy skills is simply through exposure, having symbols, pictures and words in as many places as possible. Items like these newspapers can help considerably and add to the status of symbols.

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