Disciplinary Literacy

What is Disciplinary Literacy?

Disciplinary literacy is the education theory that reading, writing, and thinking are specialized in the different disciplines. For example, reading a novel like a literary critic in English language arts is different than reading a newspaper article in history or a research article in biology. View the infographic from Read, Write, Inquire by Spires, Kerkhoff, and Paul below to see how the disciplines within English, science, social studies, and mathematics might engage in literacy.

(Spires, Kerkhoff, & Paul, 2020)

Why is Disciplinary Literacy Important?

Disciplinary literacy requires disciplinary knowledge. This is why it is essential for history teachers to teach literacy in the context of history and science teachers to teach literacy in the context of science. Watch this video by Dr. Shea Kerkhoff of the University of Missouri - St. Louis to hear why it's important.