As a middle level educator, the focal point for our 7th and 8th grade classes is English. At the beginning of the class, I had no idea what disciplinary literacy was. Getting more in depth with it, I realized how disciplinary literacy can be helpful in these English classes. In order to be able to give your students their fullest potential of learning, it forces them to reach to levels they previously were not at. In english class, a lot of the times students will read something and just read it to read it. They do not take away anything that the author or teacher wants them to grasp from it.
Because not all students learn the same way, through different types of disciplinary literacy the students can adjust to find their groove to learn. When they learn something, that information can be used down the line and develop their skills even more. One thing in English class that students will do is understanding pieces of literature. Going deeper into the text and its meaning takes the students into a deeper understanding of the purpose. By using prior knowledge, they are able to develop their own way of thinking and to interpret the literature pieces.
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To begin with, surface level reading is introductory and it dips the student’s toes in the water. Like you said, at the middle level with a focal discipline in English for grades seven and eight, it is important that disciplinary is introduced, if it has not been already, or to allow the students to advance their reading comprehension through disciplinary literacy. It allows the students to think more comprehensively rather than horizontally if that makes sense. What varying types of disciplinary literacy can be used in the classroom and how will it not only allow the students to use the knowledge for the class, but for future classes like you said. Prior knowledge is key. Teachers should understand what a student’s knowledge and comprehension is going into the lesson plan or unit.
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