Thursday, August 14, 2008
Literacy and Storytelling
When we speak of "literacy," why is it that our references and our emphases are so text-bound? Before writing and reading evolved, literate societies for centuries conveyed their history and their customs through oral traditions including rituals and storytelling. It may be of interest to note that when searching for images that represent storytelling, you will find numerous views of adults reading to children. Adults reading to children conveys a limited view of storytelling specifically and literacy in general. When seeking images to represent storytelling, choose a category such as oral traditions. Using this category, you will find a rich treasure of images that emphasize the importance of oral traditions, including storytelling, as contributors to a more inclusive concept of "literacy."