Literacy Across Disciplines in Grades 4-12
Disciplinary literacy is based on the idea that reading and other literacy components such as vocabulary, writing and critical thinking are specialized based on the specific discipline (history, chemistry, mathematics, etc.). Each academic discipline requires unique content that is nuanced to the individual discipline. The texts used in each discipline vary significantly. Students must have in place foundational strategies that cut across content areas before they can access the discipline-specific strategies. Discipline-specific (literacy content) strategies are necessary to support students’ understanding. At its core, disciplinary literacy encompasses the discipline-specific skills needed to read, write, and think about a particular discipline.
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