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Revealing the Naturalization of Language and Literacy: The Common Sense of Text Complexity
Author(s) -
Newhouse Erica H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of adolescent and adult literacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1936-2706
pISSN - 1081-3004
DOI - 10.1002/jaal.570
Subject(s) - naturalization , literacy , process (computing) , focus (optics) , selection (genetic algorithm) , computer science , psychology , linguistics , mathematics education , sociology , pedagogy , artificial intelligence , population , philosophy , physics , demography , alien , optics , census , operating system
Abstract This article illustrates the process and obstacles encountered when applying the Common Core's three‐ part model of determining text complexity to an urban literature text. This analysis revealed how the model privileges language and literacy practices that limit the range of texts used in classrooms through a process of naturalization and by appealing to common sense. Implications include possibilities for interrupting the process of naturalization by encouraging teachers to be more critical of text complexity measurements, shifting the focus of determining text complexity and text selection from standardized measurements to student‐centered practices, and providing students with access to more diverse texts.