| One of the most frequently heard buzzwords in | | | | of the interaction provided by pictures and |
| your child's school these days is | | | | text in children's storybooks. When reading |
| "information literacy." What this means is | | | | to your child, experiment with your voice, |
| that you're unlikely to find your child | | | | change tone volume, level, and pitch to fit |
| poring over the "Great Expectations" | | | | the action of the story. |
| anthology you studied when you were in grade | | | | |
| school. While some schools still (and | | | | Don't be embarrassed if your husband or |
| happily) have a place for traditional methods | | | | friends catch you watching cartoons at home |
| in the "teaching of English," the subject is | | | | with little Freddie. Watching cartoons can |
| now broken down into separate subjects of | | | | give a parent-teacher voice coaching. Don't |
| "Language Arts" and "Reading." Both are | | | | feel silly mimicking cartoon voices-very |
| components of information literacy. But | | | | young children are still in sensory mode. |
| information literacy refers as much to the | | | | They love voices. |
| information contained in math, science, | | | | |
| history and world cultures courses as it does | | | | Parents should familiarize themselves with |
| to courses in reading and literature | | | | the many websites for kids. Web links like |
| appreciation. | | | | KidsConnect and KidsClick can introduce the |
| | | | young learner into the logic, power, and fun |
| Information literacy goals of the American | | | | of information seeking. |
| Association of School Libraries combine | | | | |
| traditional language arts skills with | | | | Information literacy is needed to survive in |
| sophisticated computer technology | | | | the modern world. Learning to read is a |
| enhancements to form an ideal of information | | | | first step on the long road to information |
| literacy. There is good reason for parents to | | | | literacy. Information literacy requirements |
| get aboard with the program. Schools with | | | | of the state education boards mandate that |
| strong information literacy programs produce | | | | students learn not only to read but to |
| higher achieving students. | | | | organize, manipulate and use information |
| | | | productively. Parents should make an effort |
| Most school children can operate computers. | | | | to familiarize themselves not only with |
| This is often pleasing to parents who are | | | | traditional print materials, but with the |
| themselves anxious about technology, but it | | | | variety of information sources available to |
| is far from an accurate measure of | | | | the modern learner. Traditional scholarly |
| information literacy. Teachers and library | | | | journals, newspapers, and other print |
| media specialists will quickly tell you that | | | | materials are increasingly found online in |
| many of today's students have literacy | | | | university academic and public libraries. But |
| problems that go beyond simple keyboarding | | | | many parents and students do not know how to |
| skills. Information literacy must go beyond | | | | differentiate between full-text or catalogued |
| the basic Google or Yahoo web searches with | | | | abbreviated articles on the internet. A |
| which most parents and students are familiar. | | | | consultation with a school or public library |
| These searches yield an impressive and | | | | media specialist can usually remedy the |
| massive number of responses with a level of | | | | problem. |
| relevance that diminishes rapidly in | | | | |
| accordance with the user's inability to sort | | | | Not all American parents are employed in the |
| it all out. | | | | field of information technology. This can be |
| | | | a problem for some children. Many |
| It is of vital importance to teach your child | | | | traditionally educated parents take comfort |
| how to use the variety of so-called "deep | | | | from the keyboarding skills demonstrated by |
| web" search engines which eliminate some of | | | | children who are adept at playing video |
| the "chaff" received in the generalized | | | | games. Keyboarding skills can serve |
| searches one finds on Google or Yahoo. How | | | | information literacy goals by eliminating the |
| many parents have used Ixquick Metasearch, | | | | fear of technology that some adults |
| for example? How many parents are familiar | | | | experience. However, true information |
| with internet file extensions like "*.gov" | | | | literacy means more than keyboarding skills. |
| for government websites or "*.edu" for | | | | It means knowing where to look for |
| educational sites? How many parents are aware | | | | information. It means knowing what |
| of the increasing linkage between libraries | | | | information is reliable and current. It means |
| across the region, across the state, across | | | | knowing how to organize the information. It |
| the nation, and even across the world? | | | | means following ethical and legal guidelines |
| | | | regarding the use of information. It means |
| Wise parents introduce their children to | | | | leadership, the same kind of leadership and |
| literacy skills early by reading to their | | | | information management that is needed by |
| children long before they learn the alphabet. | | | | tomorrow's corporations, hospitals, |
| The wise parent-teacher develops techniques | | | | universities, and government facilities. |
| which play to the child's innate appreciation | | | | |