Literacy Dig!

Have you ever paid attention to all the signs at your local grocery store or department store?  As adults we can take for granted the ease we have in understanding all the environments we frequent.  Children may experience these places differently as they continue to learn.

Recently, along with some of my cohorts from school, I went to the local PetCo to see what kind of literacy  was there.  There was surprisingly many different forms of literacy that I would not have noticed if I wasn't looking for them.  Outside on the doors was a sign with the store hours.  Once inside most of the evidence of literacy was very specific as much of it related to pets and how to take care of them.

There was a lot of information about different animals and how to take care of them displayed on signs.  They also had many brochures with information about pet care.  They also had brochures on pet food.  All this information would be very valuable to customers there looking to buy a pet.  Over by the pet food there were also signs that had definitions about certain types of pet food, such as organic food.

There were also pictures associated with the different sections of the store.  Each animal area had a picture of the animal as well as the word, like "birds" or "cats".  The fish section however was in the middle of the store had had not sign or label, just images of fish.  These images would be helpful for people or children who may not have the necessary literacy skills yet.  However, to receive the most benefit from this particular store, literacy skills are very important.

When children go out to places like the pet store, the grocery store, a restaurant, or a gas station they have the opportunity to engage in literacy.  As in the Donut House article by Davidson and Powell, by engaging in real life literacy children have more fun and can learn grammar and give it their own meaning and understanding.  I feel kids learn better when they have the chance to move around and develop their own thinking processes to help them learn things like grammar and phonics.  They can be learning without even knowing it!