Current Literature on Literacy

Current professional literature on literacy acquisition can assist the literacy committee and teachers in better understanding the reading process, factors that influence learning to read, and effective teaching practices. It also can assist with determining appropriate action. Studying the literature is absolutely necessary to effective monitoring, continued professional growth of staff, and school renewal.

A review of the current literature can occur at any step of the monitoring process, but it is especially important when building a knowledge base and when determining what action to take. The same mode of inquiry that was used to study data is applied to studying literature. Specific topics can be identified; these topics should relate to the area of interest and provide useful information to the staff. A variety of materials--such as research reports, research syntheses, articles, books, and videotapes--can be gathered on the identified topics. Then the materials should be organized for study (Calhoun, 1994).

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