What Are the 13 Types of Literacy?

When we think of literacy, we usually think of the ability to read and write. However, the understanding of literacy that we possess is often curtailed by our educational experiences. Those of us in the field of education know that there are numerous types of literacy, all of which help us navigate life and fully engage in our d
- Digital Literacy- By this definition, encompasses a wide range of skills, all of which are necessary to succeed in an increasingly digital world. As print mediums begin to die out, the ability to comprehend information found online becomes more and more important. Students who lack digital literacy skills may soon find
themselves Media Literacy- According to the National Association for Media Literacy Education, media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication. Media literacy means anything from interpreting emojis to understanding underlying messages in online advertisements to producing viral video content and recognizing native advertising.- Recreational Literacy- Independent activities that cultivate positive attitudes, interests, and literacy habits.
- Disciplinary Literacy- The treatment by experts in various disciplines of students’ reading, writing, and critical thinking abilities specific to the different disciplines.
- Civic Literacy- Knowledge of how to actively participate and effect change in the local community and society.
- Multicultural Literacy- The ability to understand and appreciate the parallels and differences between customs, values, and beliefs.
- Information Literacy- A transformational process first described by Abilock where the learner needs to find, understand, evaluate, and use information in various forms for their own personal gain. This can include personal, social, or global purposes.
- Functional Literacy- The literacy skills required to navigate society successfully.
- Content Literacy- The use of literacy in specific areas such as math literacy or science literacy.
- Early Literacy- What a child knows about communication, reading, and writing before they learn to read and write.
- Developmental Literacy- A form of literacy instruction that takes a child’s stage of development in consideration. In essence, it provides developmentally appropriate literacy instruction.
- Balanced Literacy- A reading program that uses several different reading methods to offer differentiated reading instruction.
- Critical Literacy- Is a collection of dispositions and skills that cultivate innovative teaching, critical thinking, and active inquiry. Critical literacy assists students in thinking critically about the things that they read, instead of just brushing the surface.
Did I miss any?
[…] highlights and explains 13 different types of literacies found today. You can read the full article here. The foundation for many of these literacies he refers to lies in the traditional form of literacy, […]
In addition to the 13 types of literacynyou have listed I have found at least 25 other types of literacy used in print and digital text, some that are probably literacy metaphors. These include: Adult Literacy; Agricultural Literacy; AI Literacy; Algorithm Literacy; Cancer Literacy; Climate Literacy; Coding and computational literacy; Consumer Literacy; Cultural Literacy; Data Literacy; Death literacy; Digital Health Literacy; Financial literacy; Food literacy; Geo-literacy; Health Literacy; Historical literacy;Historical literacy; Integrity Literacy; News Literacy; Physical Literacy; Racial Literacy; Scientific Literacy / science literacy; Technology Literacy; Trauma Literacy; Visual Literacy;
[…] anything. For example, an education blogger, Matthew Lynch posted an article about his view on the 13 types of literacy. But in the comment section, someone stated that they have found at least another 25 types of […]
[…] of literacy. As an example, we don’t need the breakdown of 13 types of literacy promoted on The Edvocate website. Instead, we should advocate for the inclusion of quality reading and writing opportunities into […]