“Young children practice multimodal literacies naturally and spontaneously. They easily combine and move between drama, art, text, music, speech, sound, physical movement, animation/gaming, etc.”
This quote speaks to the natural creativity that children have before they’ve gotten used to traditional classroom structures and instruction. As we get older, we are socialized by the educational system and these creative, unique, multimodal tendencies become less and less prevalent within the classroom. As someone who has gone through the educational system for 17 years, I find it difficult to engage in multimodal literacies. It seems unnatural and forced because it no longer comes naturally, which is really sad. I’m so used to writing standard essays with the standard instructions. While many of my classes at SCU have tried to incorporate multimodal literacies, they are nothing compared to the projects Shipka’s students completed (in the last reading).
It’s crucial that we expand our understanding of learning and teaching so more students can be included in the learning process. As mentioned in NCTE mission statement of support, multimodal literacies can enhance students’ success in the real world after they pass through their education, as it emphasis teamwork, collaboration, and creativity. However, I don’t think traditional styles of teaching and learning should be thrown away altogether. I think there needs to be a balance between to two to achieve maximum learning.
cmm 
I think you make a great point about the growing uniqueness of natural creativity. I wonder if some of it has come about through the increased emphasis our society has placed on emphasizing English and math in the classroom, as well as the value we place on standardized test scores. Growing up, I watched my school district’s theater, music, and art programs struggle as the administration placed more and more focus on grammar and math skills. However, the less obvious result was the tightening of creative expression that took place within those language arts and math classrooms, too. My English teachers assigned less creative writing and person reflection in favor of critical thinking and research papers. To have a student truly flourish, they have to have access to all of these outlets of creativity. Math and grammar are important, but allowing a little more room for creativity can help a student become a more well-rounded person.
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