What is literacy?

Research to Practice

By Research to Practice
Community contribution / October 17, 2014

This is a review of the seminal article, This is Literacy, by James Paul Gee. Gee's work focuses on the socio-cultural factors of literacy. This article explains his term discourses, in relation to literacy and literacy practices. He focuses on the disadvantages some students have when they do not have mastery of the primary discourse used in classrooms and schools, and the importance of understanding students' home language/discourses.

To complete the Professional Development module for this review visit www.researchtopractice.com.au

Literature Review

Author: James Paul Gee ...

Primary School Teacher - 2027 Expressions of Interest

Canberra Grammar School Canberra ACT

We invite expressions of interest from exceptional Primary School teachers seeking ongoing or fixed-term opportunities commencing in 2027.

Teaching - Primary / Aug 14, 2026

Early Childhood Teacher

Story House Early Learning Stones Corner QLD

Explore how we enhance and support our Story House-ers at our Mornington service, proudly certified as a Great Place to Work!

Teaching - Early childhood / Aug 14, 2026

Casual Educator

Story House Early Learning Stones Corner QLD

Explore how we enhance and support our Story House-ers at our New Gisborne service, proudly certified as a Great Place to Work!

Childcare & Outside School Hours Care / Aug 14, 2026

By Research to Practice

Community

Research to Practice is committed to providing current and relevant professional development in relation to literacy and English for primary and secondary schools. Online anyone can access reviews of literature to stay up to date on what is happening in the research world. Alternatively, schools can access the knowledge of Research to Practice for inservices (Victoria: Metropolitan Melbourne, eastern suburbs, suburbs along Peninsula Link). We provide a general professional development program, or we can adapt to meet the needs of individual schools.

Similar news

Community / Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools School news / The importance of the Master of Reading and Literacy School news / Quality reading instruction key to lifting literacy performance, says literacy lobby group

Latest comments

Wow, seriously amazing how out of touch these people are who create these groups. We have so much information in fron...

— Dean Gowing on Suspend The Use Of Ai And 1:1 Devices In Schools: Teachers, Parents Launch New Petition

Top events

School news / Senate inquiry hears grieving parents describe tech platforms as ‘social heroin’

A father has begged the Federal Government to help teenagers so more parents don’t find themselves having to decide what flowers to put on their child’s coffin.

School news / Education union members demand full transparency on school funding: ICAC inquiry

The union representing teachers and support staff in non-government schools in NSW and the ACT says it is deeply concerned by revelations that public funding for Catholic schools may have been wrongfully spent on Liberal party matters including br...

School news / Seeking redemption: control tactics, abuse ‘rife’ at church private school

Victims and whistleblowers have aired distressing claims of control, abuse and forced labour against an academically acclaimed private school.

School news / Thousands rallying to condemn ‘racist’ One Nation policies a wonderful learning opportunity

Thursday’s national Students Say No to Pauline Hanson protests across major cities and towns might be evoking consternation and delight in equal measure in high schools and universities, but regardless, it also provides a great teaching and learni...

School news / Behaviour expert’s CORE approach said to overhaul disruptive classrooms in five weeks

Tears of grief and relief from teachers have often met behaviour expert Dr Tim McDonald, who says his powerful framework for creating calm and orderly classrooms that are conducive to learning starts to turn around disruptive school environments i...

School news / ‘Clearly exploitative’: control tactics, abuse ‘rife’ at church private school

Former students and church members have detailed disturbing claims of financial, psychological and social control at a religious private school.

School news / Inquiry learns violent, gory online content works as a youth extremist pathway

Misanthropic, violent and gory materials are helping shape a complex form of nihilistic youth extremism being examined at a royal commission.

School news / Are you playing your part in preserving teacher librarians and school libraries?

At a time when Australia’s core educational priorities are focussed on equity and system reform, it’s hard to fathom that the obvious and known benefits of school libraries and teacher librarians are being overlooked by government and school leaders.

School news / Assess their thinking: AI changes what counts as evidence of learning, leading teacher says

How can we decide what counts as evidence of student learning in the AI age when knowledge can be instantly produced, anywhere, anytime?

School news / Deal sweetener: signing bonus dangled in front of teachers as third strike looms

Public school teachers in Victoria are in line for a one-off bonus under the State Government’s latest pay and conditions offer designed to head off a third statewide strike.

Comments