Today, parents, educators, the business leaders, and communities are concerned about educational achievement, graduation rates, and the quality of work readiness of our students. Educational assessments keep showing that many of our students are not reading at grade level and/or cannot communicate by means of the written word. The other day I heard someone say that there were 12th graders at their school that were reading at an elementary grade level! Someone else in the group asked: "What? How can that be? How could that happen?" The point is: it is happening more than we know or could wish to know!
The solutions are pretty basic: "it really DOES take a village..to raise a reader!" Without mastering the basic literacy skills of reading and writing at each level of their development, students will have a very rough time moving on successfully through the educational system. The research is clear that a child who is not reading at grade level in the fourth grade is four times less likely to graduate on time. A child who is a member of a minority group and is not reading at grade level in the fourth grade is seven times less likely to graduate on time! That is not only compelling but scary. Poor readers are frustrated because they cannot keep up with their school work nor do they understand many of the assignments. They keep getting further and further behind. Take at look at the web site of the Grade Level Reading Campaign and find all the statistics you need - at http:/gradelevelreading.net/ .
How can you help? Provide print materials at home - books, magazines, the daily newspaper. Read out loud to young children to help stir their imagination and develop listening and comprehension skills. Provide art materials like scissors, construction paper, glue, markers, crayons, drawing paper, and other items to help children "draw" their reaction to a story that was read to them. Encourage regular trips to the library and get library cards for the family. If transportation is an issue, participate as a family in family literacy events at your child's school or in the community. Read together as a family and discuss the story or book read. Involve the family in an activity where each family member will develop a story by completing a sentence prompt like: "The two cats watched each other from opposite sides of the street when suddenly________".
Each family member will develop their short story in writing and adding illustrations and then share their story with everyone else.
You know...you can bring the latest technology to your school. You can send teachers to professional development training learning the latest techniques for engaging students in the learning process. You can spend millions of dollars on external "things.' but if the students cannot read or write they will not achieve.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Where Will They Be in 10 years?
July 30, 2014
It has often been said to many a student - "Get your education! Your future depends on it!" For many children and student the key mystery word is "future." Some cannot even plan for tomorrow!
Years ago I was privileged to participate in a National Youth At Risk Task Force which brought together educators from throughout the country. It was the most enlightening experience of my professional career because I was in the presence of "experts" passionate about youth and the future of our nation under their (the youth's) care. So many issues were brought to the table! I think our first three-day meeting kept us engaged sixteen hours per day. We departed with more questions and less answers but one thing was clear: many,many children and students do not see themselves positively in the future. They go along day-by-day simply tackling each hour as it comes without a plan!
A sad moment for me when I go out and talk with students is their response of "I don't know" when asked: "So what are your plans for the future?" They have no idea that they are in "training" at the present time for the type of adults and participants in the workforce that they will become! I always mention to them that the majority of the adults around them have jobs and that their (the student's) job is to go to school, learn all that they can, develop career goals, work towards the goals and achieve them so that they may take their place in the world of work as a professional or technical person. Above and beyond, their on-going goals are to become productive, contributing members of society! Whish! That goes over their heads sometimes; and sometimes they say "Huh?" The future is NOW. "What are you doing to prepare?" I ask. Some respond by saying that they have not thought about it. Others - very few - others do have a plan. "I want to be a pediatrician specializing in cardiology."
"Wow!" I say. "Awesome. Good for you. I hope that if my granddaughter is ever in need of a pediatrician with a cardiology specialty you will be around to help her!" They blush.
Parents, the future is now. Talk with your children about their future goals. Where will they be in 5, 10, 15, 20 years? We need teachers, doctors, nurses, mechanics, computer techs, programmers, architects, real estate agents, scientists, dietitians, etc., etc. etc. We have no idea about the many job titles that are still to be developed! Explore with your child/student. Dream with them about what their future can be. PLEASE help THEM help others make the world a better place.
It has often been said to many a student - "Get your education! Your future depends on it!" For many children and student the key mystery word is "future." Some cannot even plan for tomorrow!
Years ago I was privileged to participate in a National Youth At Risk Task Force which brought together educators from throughout the country. It was the most enlightening experience of my professional career because I was in the presence of "experts" passionate about youth and the future of our nation under their (the youth's) care. So many issues were brought to the table! I think our first three-day meeting kept us engaged sixteen hours per day. We departed with more questions and less answers but one thing was clear: many,many children and students do not see themselves positively in the future. They go along day-by-day simply tackling each hour as it comes without a plan!
A sad moment for me when I go out and talk with students is their response of "I don't know" when asked: "So what are your plans for the future?" They have no idea that they are in "training" at the present time for the type of adults and participants in the workforce that they will become! I always mention to them that the majority of the adults around them have jobs and that their (the student's) job is to go to school, learn all that they can, develop career goals, work towards the goals and achieve them so that they may take their place in the world of work as a professional or technical person. Above and beyond, their on-going goals are to become productive, contributing members of society! Whish! That goes over their heads sometimes; and sometimes they say "Huh?" The future is NOW. "What are you doing to prepare?" I ask. Some respond by saying that they have not thought about it. Others - very few - others do have a plan. "I want to be a pediatrician specializing in cardiology."
"Wow!" I say. "Awesome. Good for you. I hope that if my granddaughter is ever in need of a pediatrician with a cardiology specialty you will be around to help her!" They blush.
Parents, the future is now. Talk with your children about their future goals. Where will they be in 5, 10, 15, 20 years? We need teachers, doctors, nurses, mechanics, computer techs, programmers, architects, real estate agents, scientists, dietitians, etc., etc. etc. We have no idea about the many job titles that are still to be developed! Explore with your child/student. Dream with them about what their future can be. PLEASE help THEM help others make the world a better place.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Setting Reading Goals for 2014!
It was the Honorable Ruben Hinojosa, Member of Congress who told me the story of his visits to the ministries of education of various countries where he asked the question: "What is the secret of your high graduation rate for high school students?" Some of the countries he visited had a 90% or above graduation rate! The answer to his question was simple - "Early reading plus early writing equals school success." Congressman Hinojosa took this to heart and came back to his congressional district and organized the South Texas Literacy Coalition!
The next question you readers may have might be - "How 'early'? Well, the literacy research confirms that a child's literacy skills begin the first time a story is read out loud to them. Listening to the voice of the reader - hopefully one of their parents, the reader's intonation, pronunciation, and the drama used to tell the story - all of these factors contribute positively to a child's development of literacy skills including listening, understanding the stories by the illustrations, following sequencing, and recognizing that there is a beginning and an end to a story. During this very valuable family time together, the child's brain is making cognitive connections listening to words and being able to recognize them again, understanding the plot of the story, and falling in love with the characters and even the illustrations and colors in a book.
The key is to have a variety of reading materials available to young children at home - where the home is the first classroom and the parents - the first teachers. Children need to be exposed to popular stories by popular authors - Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, Mother Goose nursery rhymes, and poetry. They should also have music, puzzles, art supplies (scissors, construction paper, drawing paper, crayons and markers, glue, etc.) available to complete a story time by drawing something that they remember about the story. Younger children can be involved in singing or dancing or in puzzle activities that might relate to the story. A story like Red Lemon by Bob Staake is a story about diversity but can also introduce a puzzle with fruits or even a recipe to make lemonade or perhaps lemon pie together.
If parents can arrange their schedules for one of their most important jobs - mentoring their children to help develop literacy skills early on - then indeed, their children can engage in "early reading plus early writing" to achieve success in school and life!
Take your child to the public library this next weekend and visit the Children's section. It will open up a whole new world of communication, fun and quality time for the entire family!
It was the Honorable Ruben Hinojosa, Member of Congress who told me the story of his visits to the ministries of education of various countries where he asked the question: "What is the secret of your high graduation rate for high school students?" Some of the countries he visited had a 90% or above graduation rate! The answer to his question was simple - "Early reading plus early writing equals school success." Congressman Hinojosa took this to heart and came back to his congressional district and organized the South Texas Literacy Coalition!
The next question you readers may have might be - "How 'early'? Well, the literacy research confirms that a child's literacy skills begin the first time a story is read out loud to them. Listening to the voice of the reader - hopefully one of their parents, the reader's intonation, pronunciation, and the drama used to tell the story - all of these factors contribute positively to a child's development of literacy skills including listening, understanding the stories by the illustrations, following sequencing, and recognizing that there is a beginning and an end to a story. During this very valuable family time together, the child's brain is making cognitive connections listening to words and being able to recognize them again, understanding the plot of the story, and falling in love with the characters and even the illustrations and colors in a book.
The key is to have a variety of reading materials available to young children at home - where the home is the first classroom and the parents - the first teachers. Children need to be exposed to popular stories by popular authors - Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, Mother Goose nursery rhymes, and poetry. They should also have music, puzzles, art supplies (scissors, construction paper, drawing paper, crayons and markers, glue, etc.) available to complete a story time by drawing something that they remember about the story. Younger children can be involved in singing or dancing or in puzzle activities that might relate to the story. A story like Red Lemon by Bob Staake is a story about diversity but can also introduce a puzzle with fruits or even a recipe to make lemonade or perhaps lemon pie together.
If parents can arrange their schedules for one of their most important jobs - mentoring their children to help develop literacy skills early on - then indeed, their children can engage in "early reading plus early writing" to achieve success in school and life!
Take your child to the public library this next weekend and visit the Children's section. It will open up a whole new world of communication, fun and quality time for the entire family!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Family Reading Night Story Time Tips
Getting Started
When trying to set up the weekly routine of having a Family
Reading Night, some young families may not know where to begin. Perhaps there aren’t very many story options,
or you are having trouble keeping your audience engaged. Keep on reading for tips that will make your
Family Reading Night fun for everyone.
We All Tell Stories
Whether we are talking with our friends, sharing secrets or
gossip, or telling someone else about something exciting that happened, we are
telling stories. You are already a storyteller!
The next step is learning to add these same feelings and emotions when
reading and sharing stories during your Family Reading Night. You have the ability to take these stories to
another level and make them different and special for your family—and whoever
else might be around.
Making Your Stories
Come to Life
What makes the difference between reading a good story and
being a good story teller? There are
many things a good storyteller can do to make the experience more fun for the
listener. Experiment with tone of
voice—try using loud and quiet voices, or different voices for the
characters. Move around! Use hand gestures and facial expressions to
keep your listeners focused on you as you move through the story itself. You will notice that people of all ages will
enjoy your ability to make the story a unique experience for all.
Preparing to Share
Your Story
Are you excited yet?
Are you ready to get involved and start doing some storytelling? When selecting a story to share with a group
of any size, there are a few factors to consider. First, you want to make sure that most, if
not all, of your audience will find it enjoyable. Once you have selected something appropriate
for all, read the story several times.
This is to make sure that you really
know the story. If there are any parts
of the story that you find interesting or unfamiliar, use the internet to
research and dig a little deeper. This
way, you will have answers to the questions that may come up as you’re giving
your performance. Now, practice telling
your story and really get into it—remember, storytelling is a performance!
The Big Moment – The
Performance
Now that you’ve practiced and prepared, it’s time to share
your story. Before getting started, you
may want to describe the characters and setting of the story. This could save you from being interrupted
too often if there are any complicated ideas to explain (Remember the internet research? This is why!). Stimulate your audience by keeping the
space close—unless you have some spectacular moves planned for your big debut. Make sure to keep things moving at a pace
every person can follow. The best rule
is to keep things going fast enough for the youngest participating audience
member to follow. Now, share your story!
Wrapping Things Up
That was fun, wasn’t it?
This is a fantastic way to share stories in a family setting. Leave time afterwards to have a discussion
and answer any questions your children might have. This will help if anything was confusing and
make sure that Family Reading Night stays both fun and informative for the
child. Feel free to ask questions of
your own. If the story was hard to
follow for the children, perhaps next time your choice will be a different type
of story. Once you start doing this
regularly, you will see the benefits of this kind of interaction for all
involved.
Have any experiences
to share? We would love to hear about Family Reading Night in your home. Feel free to post comments below or email
your testimonials to stxliteracy@gmail.com
Monday, June 17, 2013
Summer Time Family Reading Challenge
A Break from the
Typical Summer Break
For some people, summer time brings to mind images of the
beach, swimming pools, and daytime camps to keep children routinely engaged,
focused, and active. During this time of
year, many parents have to continue working as their children take a long break
from the daily school routine. Keeping
children occupied in a constructive manner can be a challenge; it can be very
tempting to rent a movie or just turn the television on. This summer, we at the South Texas Literacy
Coalition would like to challenge you to start a family reading night in your
home.
Reading and
Repetition Build Brain Power
Children learn in many different ways, and reading out loud
to children helps to exercise the mind and develop neural pathways in the
brain. Language is learned through
repetition and modeling, something that reading out to children helps
accomplish. Exposure to words, phrases,
and concepts through books ensures that young minds realize that print media
serves a vital purpose in daily life.
There is virtually nothing that we do in our daily life that doesn’t
involve language; our level of language mastery determines how we are able to
express ourselves.
Another note on repetition:
Sometimes, parents can’t believe that their children want to continue
hearing the same story over and over again.
This is how learning occurs! If you begin to find a story boring or
tiresome, remember how enthusiastic you were about your favorite stories as a
child. If your child must hear the same
story every time you sit down, try introducing a new story into the mix; you
may soon be re-reading several favorite stories!
Children Follow in
Their Parents’ Footsteps
Taking a small amount of time once a week to dedicate to
reading a story out loud and then sharing some quiet family time reading can
bring a new dimension to the family dynamic.
According to Roger Desmond of the University of Hartford, children spend
up to eight times the number of hours at home as he or she does at school. He states that, “home as teacher is likely to
be a stronger predictor of admiration for reading than is the school.” Educating children begins at home, and
children want to follow in their parents’ lead.
Conversational
Literacy
Talking with your children opens the lines of communication
and conversations help young minds to be able to grasp larger concepts.
Literacy begins with parent-child interactions.
That means that “real world” language used with your children helps to
start teaching them before school ever starts.
The language you and your child exchange with one another is helping
them toward literacy later. Take this a
step further and discuss stories with your children. Remember those stories your grandmother used
to tell you? Pass them on! Continue talking about stories you read or
tell aloud after you have closed the book.
Entertaining a New
Idea
There was a time when reading was considered as enjoyable as
sitting down to watch your favorite television show. A New
York Times blog called Media Decoder
reported in May of 2012 that “in the last three months of 2011, the average
American with a TV set at home spent 153 hours and 19 minutes watching
‘traditional TV’ — TV viewed on a set rather than a computer or a tablet.” Spending thirty minutes to an hour reading
with family 1-3 times a week no longer sounds like a strange request. Even if you spent three hours per week
reading as a family that would still only total 36 hours— 117 hours less than
the average American spends watching TV!
Taking It One Step
Further
There are many studies that demonstrate the stark contrast
between children who grow up in a language-rich environment and those who
don’t—but it’s never too late to get started.
Take a break from the summer break and make reading with your family
part of your routine. Tell stories,
discuss characters, play “what if?” games and change the ending—whatever you
do, have fun! We look forward to hearing
from you and how this is working with your family.
Interested in learning more about storytelling? Our next
article will feature storytelling techniques and other tips to facilitate your
Family Reading Night.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Life is a journey...
This past week I watched an interview with Diana Nyad, the 63-year-old swimmer who attempted to swim from Cuba to Florida, but because of some unexpected dangers was pulled from the water to safety. In her interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Diana said "I'm not a quitter...", a comment which struck me given the degree to which she woked to achieve her goal. My thoughts were, "you definitely are not a quitter; I could not even have fathomed that goal!" If the truth be told - I'm not a even a swimmer! Another thing that she said was that "life really is a journey--not a destination." Who first said that quote? A quick search on the internet came up with too many answers. One source attributed the quote to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Aerosmith! Other sources said the quote was anonymous! At this point it does not matter who said it. What does matter is the impact that quote can have on each one of us!
The quote is about our dreams and goals and the whole idea that each one of us is evolving. Every new experience creates a new dimension of our lives. Deep in our souls we have dreams and those dreams can turn into goals; and those goals into challenges and eventually into success or failure. When we are successful in our goals, what happens? We usually set new goals--to do more, write more, go farther, fly higher; thus, we are always evolving. That is the journey--the day-to-day, year-to-year collection of experiences that makes us who we are every single day. Every single day--we are different from the day before because we have new awarenesses, new challenges, successes and failures. The important thing is that we turn those failures into life experiences and work hard not to make the same mistake again.
Oh to get our students to think about their life's journey! The research says that transtion from middle school to high school is the most difficult period in the life of an adolescent. One source even says we need to save the eigth and ninth grades in schools! These are the grades that are most challenging to students on at least two levels. On the one hand, normal adolescent growth and development is hard at work changing a teenager's body. On the other hand, interpersonal relationships are being affected by the psycho-social changes and impacting self-esteem, self-image, and self-concept. Stress is at extremes for adolescents during this time. With so many distractions fueling confusion and indecision, it is easy to see why teens just want to "give up." Indeed, teens in the eigth and ninth grades are at risk for dropping out of school. They lack a support system which only parents and a cadre of significant adults can provide. This support system is a collection guidance, mentoring, support, life coaching, career counseling, friendship and unconditional positive regard--love to help the teens bridge over to their journey to young adulthood. It's a challenge! Is there a teenager in your life that you can guide through the journey?
The quote is about our dreams and goals and the whole idea that each one of us is evolving. Every new experience creates a new dimension of our lives. Deep in our souls we have dreams and those dreams can turn into goals; and those goals into challenges and eventually into success or failure. When we are successful in our goals, what happens? We usually set new goals--to do more, write more, go farther, fly higher; thus, we are always evolving. That is the journey--the day-to-day, year-to-year collection of experiences that makes us who we are every single day. Every single day--we are different from the day before because we have new awarenesses, new challenges, successes and failures. The important thing is that we turn those failures into life experiences and work hard not to make the same mistake again.
Oh to get our students to think about their life's journey! The research says that transtion from middle school to high school is the most difficult period in the life of an adolescent. One source even says we need to save the eigth and ninth grades in schools! These are the grades that are most challenging to students on at least two levels. On the one hand, normal adolescent growth and development is hard at work changing a teenager's body. On the other hand, interpersonal relationships are being affected by the psycho-social changes and impacting self-esteem, self-image, and self-concept. Stress is at extremes for adolescents during this time. With so many distractions fueling confusion and indecision, it is easy to see why teens just want to "give up." Indeed, teens in the eigth and ninth grades are at risk for dropping out of school. They lack a support system which only parents and a cadre of significant adults can provide. This support system is a collection guidance, mentoring, support, life coaching, career counseling, friendship and unconditional positive regard--love to help the teens bridge over to their journey to young adulthood. It's a challenge! Is there a teenager in your life that you can guide through the journey?
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Literacy and College Readiness
Literacy and College Readiness
Educational strategies these days are focusing on getting students ready for college and the rigors of coursework. Programs in elementary, middle school, and high school are focusing on the idea of helping students understand pathways to college by providing information and skills on study skills. Some school districts are sending teachers to "extreme" training sessions and conferences to help gain new knowledge and ideas on how to reach students and help them be successful in school and thus, ready for a post-secondary education. All of these efforts are noteworthy because in the United States, we are trying to play "catch up" with many other countries that are at the "head of the class" in academic achievement. I agree that we cannot let up and must continue to do what we can to help secondary students achieve. However, if we are going to make any in-roads in educational attainment we must start at the beginning--at the beginning of the school journey.
One way that we will make a significant impact on graduation rates, college attendance, and college graduation - be it a technical, 2-year, or 4-year program, is to start now with our Pre-K through fourth grade students. We must help them develop the literacy skills which will launch them into a well-executed plan to learn to read, write, communicate, and problem-solve! These four basic literacy skills are connected to college readiness by big, bold dots. We will not see the fruits of our efforts in this year's graduation rate; but we will see a difference in eight to twelve years when the Pre-K to fourth grade students are ready to graduate! You might say - but wait - that's too long - we need results NOW! You are correct. We cannot drop the ball with our current students but somewhere along the way we have forgotten to help children love to learn, love to read for pleasure, express themselves through writing and speaking. Most of all, we have forgotten to help them use what they know to solve problems.
I remember asking someone, as I sat in a college Algebra class that I did not like, "when am I ever going to use Algebra in my life?" As it turned out, when I was well into my family and consumer sciences program and majoring in nutrition, I used algebra in my quantity cooking classes to take a simple recipe and quantify it to serve 100 persons! I finally "got it!"
College Readiness is defined as...the level of preparation that students need in order to be ready and to enroll and succeed without remediation in credit-bearing entry level coursework at a community college, trade school, or university. College is rigorous! College is designed to help students become professionals who will serve their communities in their respective careers and capacities. These same rigorous skills are needed in the workplace. So you are having surgery. Do you want the student who earned "C's" in college or "A's" to perform the surgery?
Reading is a given in college. You must read chapter after chapter in a variety of courses. Writing is a must in college. You must develop scholarly writing skills and write in a manner that you can communicate your message in a professional, articulate manner. Communications skills are so important because they manner in which you speak or communicate through your writing says a great deal about you. And then there is problem-solving as a key literacy skill for college readiness. Being able to read, comprehend, strategize and develop a plan to solve a problem by using what you already know plus what you read and learn is the key to life success.
College readiness? It starts by teaching very young children the magic information that they can find in books. It continues by helping them learn to understand the message and re-tell the story in their own words. Finally, it continues by asking them - "how would you end the story? What would you do differently?" The minds of young children are phenomenal! They can learn so much; but they need their parents and other significant adults to help them read, write, and problem-solve to guide then on the pathway to college readiness. We need to start NOW!
Educational strategies these days are focusing on getting students ready for college and the rigors of coursework. Programs in elementary, middle school, and high school are focusing on the idea of helping students understand pathways to college by providing information and skills on study skills. Some school districts are sending teachers to "extreme" training sessions and conferences to help gain new knowledge and ideas on how to reach students and help them be successful in school and thus, ready for a post-secondary education. All of these efforts are noteworthy because in the United States, we are trying to play "catch up" with many other countries that are at the "head of the class" in academic achievement. I agree that we cannot let up and must continue to do what we can to help secondary students achieve. However, if we are going to make any in-roads in educational attainment we must start at the beginning--at the beginning of the school journey.
One way that we will make a significant impact on graduation rates, college attendance, and college graduation - be it a technical, 2-year, or 4-year program, is to start now with our Pre-K through fourth grade students. We must help them develop the literacy skills which will launch them into a well-executed plan to learn to read, write, communicate, and problem-solve! These four basic literacy skills are connected to college readiness by big, bold dots. We will not see the fruits of our efforts in this year's graduation rate; but we will see a difference in eight to twelve years when the Pre-K to fourth grade students are ready to graduate! You might say - but wait - that's too long - we need results NOW! You are correct. We cannot drop the ball with our current students but somewhere along the way we have forgotten to help children love to learn, love to read for pleasure, express themselves through writing and speaking. Most of all, we have forgotten to help them use what they know to solve problems.
I remember asking someone, as I sat in a college Algebra class that I did not like, "when am I ever going to use Algebra in my life?" As it turned out, when I was well into my family and consumer sciences program and majoring in nutrition, I used algebra in my quantity cooking classes to take a simple recipe and quantify it to serve 100 persons! I finally "got it!"
College Readiness is defined as...the level of preparation that students need in order to be ready and to enroll and succeed without remediation in credit-bearing entry level coursework at a community college, trade school, or university. College is rigorous! College is designed to help students become professionals who will serve their communities in their respective careers and capacities. These same rigorous skills are needed in the workplace. So you are having surgery. Do you want the student who earned "C's" in college or "A's" to perform the surgery?
Reading is a given in college. You must read chapter after chapter in a variety of courses. Writing is a must in college. You must develop scholarly writing skills and write in a manner that you can communicate your message in a professional, articulate manner. Communications skills are so important because they manner in which you speak or communicate through your writing says a great deal about you. And then there is problem-solving as a key literacy skill for college readiness. Being able to read, comprehend, strategize and develop a plan to solve a problem by using what you already know plus what you read and learn is the key to life success.
College readiness? It starts by teaching very young children the magic information that they can find in books. It continues by helping them learn to understand the message and re-tell the story in their own words. Finally, it continues by asking them - "how would you end the story? What would you do differently?" The minds of young children are phenomenal! They can learn so much; but they need their parents and other significant adults to help them read, write, and problem-solve to guide then on the pathway to college readiness. We need to start NOW!
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