Literacy Educators and Researchers: Making a Difference in Our Diverse Communities. The Thirty-Eighth Yearbook: A Double Peer-Reviewed Publication of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (original) (raw)

Recent times have seen an increase in the use of literacy, and in many cases, the substitution of literacy where reading was once the term of choice. A deep curiosity about these shifts by professional organizations, a range of stakeholders, and the program descriptions at institutions of higher learning led to this essay. It is guided by three specific intentions: (a) to explore the varying (and often overlapping) definitions of literacy and reading in order to establish their substantive and subtle differences, (b) to ponder the implications of selecting one term over another or using them in combination, and (c) to spark questions for future research that would further clarify literacy, reading, and their individual and combined importance for the education of our nations’ youth. Improving the reading achievement for all students (and adults) has long been a national (and international) priority. More frequently than in previous times, literacy replaces reading as the label to fr...