'If I was an astronaut...'

MULTILITERACIES: 

'If I was an astronaut' is a key image to my interpretation of the kinds of literacies I relate to my personal experience and development. Importantly this image illustrates the potency of pictures as a mode of language. The relationship between words and pictures is vital in order to decode the story. This supports the contemporary conception of literacy as more than just reading, writing and listening to words -- today the boundaries of 'literacy' have evolved and expanded (Anstey & Bull, 2004, p. 10). The conception of traditional literacies (as linguistic) are now joined by a diverse array of 'multiliteracies' (Cazden, Fairclough & Gee, 1996, p. 65). Multiliteracies encompass the broad spectrum of 'modes' through which meaning can be created and interpreted. Modes of meaning making are now conceived to be visual, auditory, gestural, spatial and linguistic (ibid). As a visual arts teacher in training I find it empowering to think that the visual is now considered a modality of meaning making - because of course it is! It seems that pedagogical/cognitive theory are finally catching up to common sense. Mrs Smith..now there's a woman who was ahead of the game. I'm certain she encouraged student drawings because she recognised the relationship between images and words in creating meaning. I'm fortunate Mrs Smith did recognise this relationship. To optimise students' readiness to learn the literacies valued in school (in my era this was definitely linguistic literacy) "teachers must endeavor to know, understand, acknowledge and value the literacies that students already have" (Anstey & Bull, 2004, p.12). Clearly I was a poor writer in kindergarten, but my early experiences quickly brought me up to speed. Mrs Smith valued the literacy skills I had and from there I built a repertoire of skills to communicate (including writing).