Did you know that 90 million Americans have trouble reading and writing? Thirty-six million American adults can't read better than the average 3rd grader. Without valuable literacy skills such as reading, writing, math and computer skills families struggle with employment, health and providing even basic support. These statistics are daunting, but there is help available and plenty of room if you want to work to counter the effects that illiteracy has on our communities and nation,.
Tonight I attended an orientation session to become an adult literacy tutor. The Rowan County Literacy Council (RCLC) provides free instruction for adults in a one-on-one setting with trained tutors. Volunteers are needed to make this possible and I'm excited about pursuing this area of service. North Carolina ranks 41st in the nation in literacy and 1 in 5 adults in Rowan County are literacy deprived.
At our meeting tonight, a gentlemen in his 70s shared his story with the group. After struggling with being illiterate through primary and secondary school and his adult life, he decided at the age of 59 that he wanted to learn to read. For many years, he believed he was not smart enough to read. Through the attention and support provided by RCLC tutors he learned to read, studied for and attained his GED and is now a volunteer tutor and a budding author! Today he makes school visits and frequently reads to and shares his story with students. Reading changed his life.
When adults can't read their lives and the lives of their families are greatly impacted. Think about all of the activities that you do on a daily basis that require reading, from grocery shopping to driving, filling a prescription, completing a job application and even helping kids with their homework. What if you could not read? Illiteracy causes people to lose a sense of self-worth and face a lifetime of diminished productivity and potential. Sadly, if not addressed, it can become yet another generational curse.
There is hope and help available! RCLC, a member of the ProLiteracy network, is always in need of volunteer tutors. No teaching experience is needed. If you are in the Rowan County area call 704-216-8266. Outside of the area, check out the ProLiteracy website at proliteracy.org. The site provides tons of information about the impact that educating the adult population will have on our global society. You can also find locations of a literacy council near you. Literacy changes lives and YOU can be a part of it.
Until next time, Happy Reading!
Monday, February 24, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
A Message to Parents - Part I
It's no big secret that reading to our young children is important. Many parents believe that intelligence is an essential trait that they would like to develop in their child or children. As parents, don't we all want children who are smart and successful in school? My message to parents is this: You do have the power to boost your child's learning potential by simply making reading a part of your family's daily life.
Reading to toddlers and preschoolers provides fantastic academic benefits. Research shows that students who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education. It makes sense. Students who struggle in reading and understanding words and sentences will likely struggle in grasping math, science and social studies concepts once he is in elementary school. Reading develops a higher aptitude for learning in general; thereby improving a child's potential of success in all content areas.
Learning the fundamentals of language is key to early academic growth. Reading to and with our kids improves a child's ability and increases the rate at which this happens. Language development is one attribute that ultimately separates students who achieve and those who struggle. I believe that lack of language development is also a key reason that the academic achievement gap continues to plague our children of color.
It's not all about intelligence and language though! Reading to your young child is a great way to bond and build a relationship. In doing so, you and your little one will learn so much about each other as you explore common interests and develop new ones. So snuggle up with a good book and enjoy some nurturing time together.
Don't have young children? Well pass this information along to others. Knowledge is power but it means so much more when it's shared! Happy Reading!
Reading to toddlers and preschoolers provides fantastic academic benefits. Research shows that students who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education. It makes sense. Students who struggle in reading and understanding words and sentences will likely struggle in grasping math, science and social studies concepts once he is in elementary school. Reading develops a higher aptitude for learning in general; thereby improving a child's potential of success in all content areas.
Learning the fundamentals of language is key to early academic growth. Reading to and with our kids improves a child's ability and increases the rate at which this happens. Language development is one attribute that ultimately separates students who achieve and those who struggle. I believe that lack of language development is also a key reason that the academic achievement gap continues to plague our children of color.
It's not all about intelligence and language though! Reading to your young child is a great way to bond and build a relationship. In doing so, you and your little one will learn so much about each other as you explore common interests and develop new ones. So snuggle up with a good book and enjoy some nurturing time together.
Don't have young children? Well pass this information along to others. Knowledge is power but it means so much more when it's shared! Happy Reading!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Why I LOVE To Read!
It's Valentine's Day and what better day to discuss the LOVE of reading! Although I was not what one would consider an "early reader", I recall enjoying reading since about 4th or 5th grade. My reasons for loving to read are many and have evolved through the years. Here are my top five:
- Reading helps me relax! What better way to end an eventful day than with a great book or even an interesting article. Reading helps me "turn off" the negativity of a crazy day and ease into a more relaxing state! This is not just a feeling but there is research to support the power of reading to relax the brain!
- Reading stimulates my imagination! We are never too old to be imaginative. In fact, as we get older, it is more vital than ever than we engage in activities that keep our mind active and therefore young!
- I learn so much from reading! Although I love reading fiction for pleasure, much of my knowledge has been gained or at least guided by printed text. As an educator, or any other professional, information is plentiful and reading has been a key for me as I work to remain current in best practices and what others are doing to make a difference! Part of my learning has also come from an increased vocabulary. I learn many new and interesting words by reading!
- Reading helps improve my critical thinking skills! This is so key. In the fast-paced world in which we all live being able to think and process critically can make an enormous difference. There is a large body of research that indicates that reading heightens the connectivity in left temporal cortex of the brain. This is the area of the brain which is associated with receptivity for language. The results of this stimulation can make a difference when I have to think "on my feet"!
- Reading teaches me many thing about myself! By reading and reflecting, I have learned and grown extensively. What I can learn about life and about myself has no boundaries through the pathway of reading!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Practice What You Read
The purpose of reading can be quite varied. Do you read for pleasure, or maybe even as a "guilty" pleasure? Do you read for information? Do you read for self-improvement? Is your reading a requirement? I tend to read for all of the aforementioned reasons! This month, I chose one book for pleasure and one for self-improvement.
Reading Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson, MD was a fulfilling experience. The idea of the book is simple: making good and bad times work for you - at work and in life. Much like Johnson's bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese, Peaks and Valleys is told through the lens of a friend giving advice to another. In doing so, the reader is given a clear understanding of how to get out of our valley sooner and stay on our peak longer. Although it became a bit repetitive towards the end, it was still a good read and one that I can take aspects of and put into practice in my life. If your life is not perfect and you've wondered how to change its course, then this book may provide some useful insight! One aspect that I loved was the emphasis on sharing the Peaks and Valleys way of thinking. It could certainly make a difference in someone's life and I plan to share it with others. Want to know more? Read the book!
Next, I am reading an e-book, Stepping Down by Michelle Stimpson. It is Christian fiction, which I only enjoy if there is some "spice'! I will share my thoughts in a later post!
In the meantime, a few things to think about:
Reading Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson, MD was a fulfilling experience. The idea of the book is simple: making good and bad times work for you - at work and in life. Much like Johnson's bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese, Peaks and Valleys is told through the lens of a friend giving advice to another. In doing so, the reader is given a clear understanding of how to get out of our valley sooner and stay on our peak longer. Although it became a bit repetitive towards the end, it was still a good read and one that I can take aspects of and put into practice in my life. If your life is not perfect and you've wondered how to change its course, then this book may provide some useful insight! One aspect that I loved was the emphasis on sharing the Peaks and Valleys way of thinking. It could certainly make a difference in someone's life and I plan to share it with others. Want to know more? Read the book!
Next, I am reading an e-book, Stepping Down by Michelle Stimpson. It is Christian fiction, which I only enjoy if there is some "spice'! I will share my thoughts in a later post!
In the meantime, a few things to think about:
- Are you practicing what you read?
- How does your reading impact your life?
- If variety is the spice of life, do you vary the purpose of your reading?
- Have you encouraged a young person to read lately? If not, you should!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Reading Buddies
Greetings! I have chosen two books to read during the month of February: Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson, MD, and Stepping Down by Michelle Stimpson. I started reading Peaks and Valleys yesterday and I'm excited that my sister is reading it as well. We have already had several thought-provoking conversations about how we can apply the principles that the author has imparted.
Reading with others is a great way to increase the engagement and enjoyment of reading. Although I am not currently in a book club, I thoroughly love to discuss my readings with others. That's one reason that I started this blog! By having dialogue with others the reader is able to:
Reading with others is a great way to increase the engagement and enjoyment of reading. Although I am not currently in a book club, I thoroughly love to discuss my readings with others. That's one reason that I started this blog! By having dialogue with others the reader is able to:
- Increase their level of understanding by delving deeper into the subject matter
- Make real-world connections with the text. This is possible even with fictional text!
- Practice using new vocabulary or concepts from the reading. This is vital when reading informational text but again, it can also apply to fictional reading.
- Meet reading goals by establishing accountability partners.
- Have fun! Whether you create a friendly competition or just enjoy the time, reading can be a shared experience for friends, couples and families!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Are you REALLY a Life-Long Learner?
As I finished up Dr. Tatum's book, Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males, the final chapter really caused me to switch gears a bit. The title is "Conducting Teacher Inquiries" and Tatum calls this the "final strand for creating nesting grounds where literacy of black adolescent males can flourish". We hear terms like "inquiry-based learning" quite a bit in education but how many of us are truly engaged and invested in using this method ourselves?
Teacher inquiry is basically action research. Often when I'm presenting at conferences or even to principals, the resounding question is, "Why can't you give us some strategies that we can use now?" If only it were that simple. Whether you're an educator, a parent, activist or concerned citizen you are in a position to conduct your own action research to seek answers and enough information to begin to form your own strategies for working with struggling readers. As Tatum emphasized, "there are no black-male only research-based reading strategies." Regardless of race or academic achievement level, reading strategies are the same for all students. So what's the answer?
One thing that I learned during my doctoral studies is that it is perfectly fine not to have all the answers. In fact, true learning takes place when we encounter problems and challenges and take time to grapple with them. Reflecting on our own practices, collecting data to inform us, collaborating with colleagues, talking to students, sharing findings with others and of course READING are all useful forms of action research.
If you consider yourself to be a life-long learner, then engaging in these practices are a natural extension of your work! So I ask, are you REALLY a life-long learner? How do you know?
Teacher inquiry is basically action research. Often when I'm presenting at conferences or even to principals, the resounding question is, "Why can't you give us some strategies that we can use now?" If only it were that simple. Whether you're an educator, a parent, activist or concerned citizen you are in a position to conduct your own action research to seek answers and enough information to begin to form your own strategies for working with struggling readers. As Tatum emphasized, "there are no black-male only research-based reading strategies." Regardless of race or academic achievement level, reading strategies are the same for all students. So what's the answer?
One thing that I learned during my doctoral studies is that it is perfectly fine not to have all the answers. In fact, true learning takes place when we encounter problems and challenges and take time to grapple with them. Reflecting on our own practices, collecting data to inform us, collaborating with colleagues, talking to students, sharing findings with others and of course READING are all useful forms of action research.
If you consider yourself to be a life-long learner, then engaging in these practices are a natural extension of your work! So I ask, are you REALLY a life-long learner? How do you know?
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