Basic literacy refers to skill in reading, speaking, listening, writing and using technology effectively. Literacy also includes competence in visuals such as graphics, charts, and maps. Math literacy skills and goals are generally treated separately under mathematics department guidelines. Literacy involves locating and using information effectively. As students become more independent in goal setting, time management and creating authentic products, they are developing literacy skills. Higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation are components of literacy development.
The word "theme" refers to a major idea, concept or topic. When you approach literacy development within a thematic approach, you are selecting a central umbrella idea as an organizing medium in which you teach specified material. Such umbrella themes might include "Reach for the Stars," "Color Your World," "Under the Sea," "Traveling the Americas" or "Passport to Adventure." Use wide-open themes such as "Colors of the Rainbow" to teach colors, counting, nature and more complex topics like diversity and religious backgrounds as literacy skills develop.
Teach thinking skills under themes like "Travel" or "Space" so students learn to analyze, apply and evaluate information. When they make a collage or list items an astronaut would take into space or their parents might take on a trip, learning to count, spell, read lists or create art becomes more engaging and authentic. As literacy develops, students advance to designing a vehicle for the future or an advertising campaign for future moon vacation trips.
Students in grades 6-8 benefit from more complex themes incorporating their passage from dependence to independence, awareness of self and emerging identity issues. Themes such as "Journey into Adulthood," "World Jobs" and "Jigsaw Puzzle" enable students to explore rite-of-passage material, careers and productive roles in society at the same time as they are developing literacy. Rather than approach American and British literature from a strictly chronological approach, incorporate themes like "New Worlds," "Discovery" and "Alienation" as you teach curriculum standards.