This is a small information presentation produced to highlight findings from a small-scale study for my MA in New Literacies at the University of Sheffield. The research focuses on children's perceptions of literacy after following the National Literacy Strategy. It also explores whether children's perceptions match with those of their teacher.

1. Perceptions of Literacy
Martin Waller
MA in New Literacies
University of Sheffield

2. Context
Traditional approaches to literacy have focused
on print-based decoding skills
(Larson and Marsh, 2005; Pahl and Rowsell, 2005)
Recent discourse that reading, writing and
meaning are situated within social and cultural
practices through modes and technologies
society provides
(Street, 1984; Gee, 1996; New London Group, 1996)
The National Literacy Strategy in the UK
focused on print-based decoding skills through
a ‘literacy hour’ when introduced in 1997

3. National Literacy Strategy
The strategy represents a deeply
conservative ideology of what counts as
literacy at a time of rapid change
(Urquahart, 2002: 33)
British teachers were told what to teach,
how to teach it and how to define literacy
The aim was to present a ‘common language’
that could describe and prescribe the
literacy curriculum in the UK

4. “The common language of the Framework
therefore privileges a literacy curriculum in
which the study of the formal structures of
language and the achievement of organisational
textual structures are central”
(Urquhart, 2002: 31)

5. My Research
My interest was whether the ‘common
language’ of the National Literacy Strategy
resulted in teachers and children having the
same perceptions of literacy. My question was:
Do children’s perceptions of literacy link
with those of their teacher after
following the National Literacy Strategy
Framework for Teaching (DfEE, 1998).

6. Methodology
Qualitative approach with semi-structured
interviews - to gain detailed and desired
information (Bearne et al, 2007)
Groups of six children from both Year 1 (start
of primary schooling) and Year 6 (end of
primary schooling) were interviewed
Class teachers were interviewed separately
All participants gave written consent and real
names were not used

7. Analysis
I collected far too much data for the project
as the children were very keen to talk about
literacy. As a result a large amount of the data
was not used
Interviews were audio recorded and analysed
using a coloured category system
I had nearly 50 pages of transcripts!
I learnt that the research process is ‘messy’
and that research can be very difficult when
faced with a ‘mountain’ of data

8. Findings
Both the Year 1 and Year 6 teachers had
pluralist views of literacy consistent with Street
(1984) and the New London Group (1996)
There was a disconnect with children’s
perceptions of literacy and its place in the real
world (Genishi and Dyson, 2009)
The Year 6 children’s views were more
consistent with the narrowly conceived
definition of literacy presented in the National
Literacy Strategy (DfEE, 1998)

9. Findings
The ‘common language’ of the Framework
appears to have had more influence on children
than teachers
Children’s views were consistent with
‘traditionalist’ view of literacy focused on
reading and writing print-based texts
Teachers views were more consistent with the
‘new’ multiliteracies view of literacy

10. “Literacy I think is something to do with meaning
and making meaning and getting meaning from
things and that could be speaking, listening or
language. It’s a way of communicating. It’s a skill,
it has to be developed and it can be in several
different forms”
(Year 1 Teacher)

11. “I think it’s about learning about verbs and
different things and stories. Erm like punctuation
and different kinds... well English”
(Year 6 Child)

12. Evaluation
I found the study very hard work and a huge
task to complete
In reflection I felt my research area was
‘too big’ for a small-scale research project
I learnt that you can actually get through all
of your interview transcripts even if it appears
daunting!
I am pleased with my findings and feel they
are consistent with my initial views

13. Thank you for reading!
Martin
More at my blog:
http://www.changinghorizons.net
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/MultiMartin