Disciplinary Literacy Is Not Optional (Module 3)

Module 3 was transformative in helping me see that literacy is inseparable from disciplinary learning, especially in science. Shanahan and Shanahan (2012) argue that disciplinary literacy is not generic reading and writing; it is discipline-specific inquiry and communication. In chemistry and anatomy, students cannot model phenomena, construct explanations, or evaluate claims without tools such as guided annotation, contextual vocabulary routines, CER writing, mentor texts, and structured academic talk. These literacy moves became foundational to my thinking and later surfaced as key themes in my Module 8 interview.