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There is an adult illiteracy crisis in the United States, and this is not a hidden secret. In the state of Florida alone, there are around 2 million people who do not know how to read or write. Many of them have even graduated from high school and have jobs, but they earn far below their literate counterparts. We are going to talk a little bit about this crisis here.
A Social Problem
Most Americans are aware of this serious social issue. Most of America’s illiterate tend to live in poverty or are in jail and are surrounded by tons of economic problems. Even worse, many of these people are unable to get access to vital community services and health care because of the dire living conditions. There is also the fear that these adults living with illiteracy will pass this misfortune down to the next generation – that is of course, unless we can find a solution.
Searching for a Nationwide Solution
Literacy programs and adult education are part of the solution to this social problem. In Fort Lauderdale alone there are over 5 different adult literacy programs available through the public library. However, it is often an embarrassment for illiterate adults to seek the help in these programs to find the solutions to their problems. We must also bear in mind the fact that these solutions are unclear, and there are many root causes that play an important part in this problem. This social issue is not new, since society has tried to find a solution for decades. The fact is that there is something that is amiss in our educational system. Many local businesses and government organizations have attempted to end adult illiteracy but it is a battle that must be fought Nationwide and from the ground up. In Florida, where American adult illiteracy is most prevalent, a local ft lauderdale injury attorney has taken matters into his own hands and funded a national awareness campaign to help solve adult illiteracy.
Competitive Issues
There is also another important problem here since the United States cannot compete successfully in the global marketplace without stronger educational resources. The fact is that our educational system is substandard, and this may be the cause our economy to suffer in the long run if we can not find a long term solution.
We cannot deny there is an adult literacy crisis in the United States. This social issue is bringing about lots of problems to our society, since millions of people cannot get access to basic services. They live in poverty or are incarcerated, and this situation is hurting our future.
The post Adult Literacy Crisis in the United States appeared first on Children's Literacy.
In nearly every case, it is always the parents or caregivers who first suspect learning disabilities in a child. A person who is close to the child more often will easily find out whether the child has a learning problem or not. Parents are advised to monitor their children closely before they set their foot in childcare or kindergarten. It is worth noting that during kindergarten, most of the children will have different rates and styles of learning.
A Parent’s Responsibility
A child who does not easily grasp the idea of numbers, letters and speech like other children may be showing signs of learning disability. The disorders usually onset when the child’s brain cannot process the information in such a way that the child can easily grasp that particular concept. It is very easy for the person who looks after the child to identify signs of learning difficulties. For example, a child who cannot easily manipulate sounds when pronouncing the stated words is confirmation that the child is likely to suffer from early literacy difficulties. The child may have problems with words that have the same starting sounds or that that rhyme.
Sometimes, a child who might have been affected by an ear condition in the past may be vulnerable to a learning disability. Why? The main reason is that they could have problems grasping what the teacher wants them to read and the instructor might realize a learning disability is a play – rather than simply a hearing problem. Caregivers and parents are advised to pay attention to children who have problems responding – responding late or find it difficult to articulate.
Indications of Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities can also be prevalent if a child can comfortably understand a story but when it comes to answering questions in regard to that passage, he/she cannot relate most of the things. The other similar scenario is where a child cannot vividly deduce what letter it is when a random one is picked by the teacher yet the child can comfortably state all the alphabetical letters. At home, the parents can suspect literacy difficulties if the child may find it hard to button a sweater, play with a toy or assemble lego type structures.
Parents should understand that learning disabilities could either mean that the chid has above or normal intelligence. The only difference with other children is that the child has trouble in expressing what he/she has learned. Some children with difficulty learning may experience low self-esteem, depression and frustration simply because they can’t do what others are doing.
Summary of signs of learning disability in children under the age of 5
· Difficulty learning new words.
· Delayed speech.
· Difficulty learning to read.
· Difficulty following directions.
· Difficulty in learning numbers, alphabet, vowels and days of the week.
Parents and caregivers should understand that every child has special signs that can show reading difficulties hence they should be monitored closely. Visit this website for information about typical preschool development.
The post Signs of early literacy difficulties in children appeared first on Children's Literacy.
Encouraging children to read by developing their literacy from a young age is one of the best ways that a parent can help to ensure that their child has a foundation that they can build upon for the rest of their life. When many children enter their first year of school teachers have to start at the very beginning when starting to teach them to read. If you can give your child an advantage by exposing them to reading from a young age then you can help them to excel from the start of their time in the school system. So how exactly can you get your kids interested in literacy from a young age?
The first thing you can do should be obvious, read to them. By reading to your child every day you can show them that the books that they have tell stories that let their imaginations bring them to magical places. Reading to your child every day will encourage them to think and use their young brain instead of simply sitting there doing something like watching television. As you read to your child make sure that you are pointing out the words to them and teaching them what you are doing. Even though they won’t pick up on everything at once, over time the knowledge you are imparting them will accumulate. You will probably be quite surprised when your child starts to ask you questions, and can tell you about the story you are reading.
Even though television is often seen as bad for children’s development, it can be beneficial if you choose the right type of programming. By having your young child watch educational programming you can help transform a bad habit into a good one. There are a lot of programs out there that kids will love that actually teach them the fundamentals of reading and writing. The best part about this approach is that in most cases kids won’t even realize that they are learning. They simply think that they are watching television and having a good time.
Encouraging literacy in your child while they are still in preschool is an important way that you can help your child to develop early and excel. Children learn at a remarkable rate and as a caring parent you should take advantage of this to help give your child the best chance at succeeding in life. By investing a little time now you can help your child to thrive when they get older.
The post How Parents Can Encourage Literacy In Preschoolers appeared first on Children's Literacy.
Welcome to Poetry Friday, y’all. We are happy to be hosting here on the Family Bookshelf!! One of my favorite forms of poetry is song, and this week I want to share In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride In my daughter’s eyes I am a hero I am strong and wise and I know [...]
This was not the way I had planned to introduce our new identity, but all things happen for a reason!! Welcome to Family Bookshelf … the new name/home/identity of the Reading Tub blog. When I started blogging nearly six years ago, “scrub-a-dub-tub” worked for us, because it was just me and a few friends reading [...]
This month is for "catch-up" with reviewers adding lots of picture book reviews and several illustrated chapter books for readers transitioning to independence.
Thank you for your patience.
We are moving our blog to a new domain to celebrate a new chapter in our blog life, but it is not without hiccups.
Yes, we will be up and running by next Friday’s Poetry Friday.
I woke up today thinking that it was Saturday … which has its good side and bad side. What it really does is highlight how fast time flies not only in reality, but in our mind. Can you believe April is almost done?
The end-of-April children’s literacy and reading news round-up, brought to you by Jen Robinson, Terry Doherty, and Rasco from RIF is now available at Carol’s blog: Rasco from RIF. Over the past couple of weeks Jen Robinson, Carol Rasco, and I have collected plenty of content for you about literacy & reading-related events; literacy and reading programs and research; and suggestions for growing bookworms.
I echo Carol’s opening thought that “it has been a grand and glorious month for poetry as the celebration of National Poetry Month unfolded across the web and beyond.” She also asks us to weigh in on Nikki Grimes’ idea that we need a Pulitzer-level prize for poetry for children. Within the Kidlitosphere, we celebrate the best in children’s poetry – for various audiences I might add – with the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Awards (CYBILS). But I can see Nikki Grimes’ point, too.
We use a lot of virtual ink talking about Literacy 2.0 and the future of reading. We fret about it, we worry about the changes, we are wistful that WE didn’t have these tools as kids, and we celebrate the opportunities they create. I think that’s probably why I loved Carol’s find about the Mountain Brook Alabama school district that is making up its snow days with E-learning days … because 98% of the student population have access to computers, and they can provide assistance for the other 2%. Bravo. Wish my school district would have thought of that!
Carol closes each month with upcoming events – National Accordion Month, y’all. How will you celebrate? Well, here’s an easier question to answer: how are you planning to celebrate Mother’s Day? As you may have seen earlier this week, Macy’s and
In January 2010 we launched a meme to share ideas and book reviews for kids who are learning to read. Each month a host collects reviews about easy readers and illustrated chapter books, as well as essays and ideas about developing readers. We have always called it
The idea was to have an event that didn’t overlap with other regular events, like Nonfiction Monday and Poetry Friday. By hosting mid-month we thought the end-of-month Carnival of Children’s Literature would also have its time in the sun.
What we’ve discovered, though, is that I Can Read is being confused with the Carnival of Children’s Literature. There are myriad reasons we don’t want to do that … not the last of which is people getting frustrated that they’ve left their contribution on the wrong MEME.
So, dear readers, do you have some thoughts on a moniker we can use to share ideas to help the next generation of readers and celebrate their accomplishments … but not call it a carnival?
PS – There are still a few openings for the 2011 schedule. Check them out here.
In January 2010 we launched a meme to share ideas and book reviews for kids who are learning to read. Each month a host collects reviews about easy readers and illustrated chapter books, as well as essays and ideas about developing readers. We have always called it
The idea was to have an event that didn’t overlap with other regular events, like Nonfiction Monday and Poetry Friday. By hosting mid-month we thought the end-of-month Carnival of Children’s Literature would also have its time in the sun.
What we’ve discovered, though, is that I Can Read is being confused with the Carnival of Children’s Literature. There are myriad reasons we don’t want to do that … not the last of which is people getting frustrated that they’ve left their contribution on the wrong MEME.
So, dear readers, do you have some thoughts on a moniker we can use to share ideas to help the next generation of readers and celebrate their accomplishments … but not call it a carnival?
PS – There are still a few openings for the 2011 schedule. Check them out here.
Please excuse our virtual dust. We are making some changes to the blog (and if you look closely a hint at the direction we’re going).
All credit for this long-overdue shove goes to the A-List Blogging Bootcamp I took last week (thanks Mother Reader!)
I had hoped to do all of this work behind the scenes and have a big “ta da” but because I’m not that web savvy it will be a public remodeling.
Painters welcome ;-)
Image Credit: OpenClipart.org Construction Cone by RG1024
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Happy Poetry Friday!
Happy Easter, Happy Spring!
One of the B-I-G items on my to-do list this week was to put together the clues for Catherine’s Easter Egg Hunt. For the last few years I have combined a traditional find-the-egg with a more challenging treasure hung. Essentially, we leave clues in eggs that send her all over the house and garden until, finally, she finds her basket of goodies.
It started as an idea to encourage her to read nontraditional text … I had no idea what a huge hit it was going to be. She declared last year “the best Easter ever.” So today I’m sharing a few of the 2011 clues (and walk down memory lane) as a poem.
As a tot you liked me in purple,
clop, clop clopping around.
now you like high ones
big and clunky and brown.
Have you figured it out? Need help with this clue?
I’ll give you a hint: I am not one, but two!
From fancy to sporty they’re all in a ball
how you find what to wear
is the biggest question of all …
You’ll find your next clue in a spot you know well
Will it be dirty or clean? I’ll never tell!
I’ve heard you like reading … what’s your new favorite book?
Felicity is fun … and so is Harry Potter.
What do you think of that Snape … I think he’s a rotter.
If you need to find a new read where do look?
Just stop by that place and maybe you’ll find
a clue – a big pink one – that I’ve left behind
Oh those chores, they do stink
but not as much as the trash
Hmmm …. I’m off to watch a favorite vid
The Monster Mash!
Yes, that video gets me all in a dither
(almost as much as Rihanna on a zither!)
Is Kurt now your favorite or is it still The Boss?
What’s next for their duel a song with dental floss?
“Radio Nowhere” … now that’s a beat with some power.
Our favorites tunes can be heard from the shower!
So run along now, don’t let that next clue get wet
Happy Poetry Friday!
Happy Easter, Happy Spring!
One of the B-I-G items on my to-do list this week was to put together the clues for Catherine’s Easter Egg Hunt. For the last few years I have combined a traditional find-the-egg with a more challenging treasure hung. Essentially, we leave clues in eggs that send her all over the house and garden until, finally, she finds her basket of goodies.
It started as an idea to encourage her to read nontraditional text … I had no idea what a huge hit it was going to be. She declared last year “the best Easter ever.” So today I’m sharing a few of the 2011 clues (and walk down memory lane) as a poem.
As a tot you liked me in purple,
clop, clop clopping around.
now you like high ones
big and clunky and brown.
Have you figured it out? Need help with this clue?
I’ll give you a hint: I am not one, but two!
From fancy to sporty they’re all in a ball
how you find what to wear
is the biggest question of all …
You’ll find your next clue in a spot you know well
Will it be dirty or clean? I’ll never tell!
I’ve heard you like reading … what’s your new favorite book?
Felicity is fun … and so is Harry Potter.
What do you think of that Snape … I think he’s a rotter.
If you need to find a new read where do look?
Just stop by that place and maybe you’ll find
a clue – a big pink one – that I’ve left behind
Oh those chores, they do stink
but not as much as the trash
Hmmm …. I’m off to watch a favorite vid
The Monster Mash!
Yes, that video gets me all in a dither
(almost as much as Rihanna on a zither!)
Is Kurt now your favorite or is it still The Boss?
What’s next for their duel a song with dental floss?
“Radio Nowhere” … now that’s a beat with some power.
Our favorites tunes can be heard from the shower!
So run along now, don’t let that next clue get wet
Happy Poetry Friday!
Happy Easter, Happy Spring!
One of the B-I-G items on my to-do list this week was to put together the clues for Catherine’s Easter Egg Hunt. For the last few years I have combined a traditional find-the-egg with a more challenging treasure hung. Essentially, we leave clues in eggs that send her all over the house and garden until, finally, she finds her basket of goodies.
It started as an idea to encourage her to read nontraditional text … I had no idea what a huge hit it was going to be. She declared last year “the best Easter ever.” So today I’m sharing a few of the 2011 clues (and walk down memory lane) as a poem.
As a tot you liked me in purple,
clop, clop clopping around.
now you like high ones
big and clunky and brown.
Have you figured it out? Need help with this clue?
I’ll give you a hint: I am not one, but two!
From fancy to sporty they’re all in a ball
how you find what to wear
is the biggest question of all …
You’ll find your next clue in a spot you know well
Will it be dirty or clean? I’ll never tell!
I’ve heard you like reading … what’s your new favorite book?
Felicity is fun … and so is Harry Potter.
What do you think of that Snape … I think he’s a rotter.
If you need to find a new read where do look?
Just stop by that place and maybe you’ll find
a clue – a big pink one – that I’ve left behind
Oh those chores, they do stink
but not as much as the trash
Hmmm …. I’m off to watch a favorite vid
The Monster Mash!
Yes, that video gets me all in a dither
(almost as much as Rihanna on a zither!)
Is Kurt now your favorite or is it still The Boss?
What’s next for their duel a song with dental floss?
“Radio Nowhere” … now that’s a beat with some power.
Our favorites tunes can be heard from the shower!
So run along now, don’t let that next clue get wet
Soggy would dampen your best Easter yet!
Happy Easter … Happy Spring
Hop on over to see Kate Coombs at the
I am envious of kids today. They have the benefit of learning in so many different ways, with so many different tools. It is due in large part to changes in technology that make them accessible (at least in theory) to all.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE how teachers are bringing those tools into the classroom … their enthusiasm for reaching students of all ages in ways that are meaningful to them with tools that are relevant to their “future” life is just wonderful. I can’t thank them enough for all the unpaid time they invest for our kids.
But can we find an alternative to YouTube? Please?
Last week, our elementary school music teacher shared this video of Jake Breune playing “Only Girl (in the World)” by Rihanna on the zither. I loved his idea: show kids that music can be styled in different ways with different instruments or by repurposing the instrument. The teacher used a song they know and love … brilliant. As you’ll see, this is one in a series of “dueling videos” between Kurt and Jake recreating pop tunes on various instruments, real and unique.
The problem? When the video ends, “up next” is Lady Gaga and “Born this Way.” When we used to watch some of the Muppet songs, Lady Gaga was there too. Yes, I am the uncool mom. My 9-year-old doesn’t watch Lady Gaga videos. Catherine has gotten used to my explanation, but that doesn’t mean she likes it or stops asking me when I”ll change my mind. Not to mention how tired I am of repeating it, but that’s for another day.
Don’t get me wrong, I think there is a lot of incredibly creative, useful videos and tutorials on YouTube. But there is a lot of (ahem) crap, too, and no really good way to control what comes up next. In reality, sounding like a broken record is a small price to pay for protecting kids online. That said, it doesn’t have to be “this hard,” either.
When teachers play videos from YouTube there is an unspoken message that kids (or at least my kid) takes away.
1. Mr. x uses YouTube in school.
2. School is a place where I learn.
3. Mr. X is a teacher … he is in a position of authority … he is smart … he wouldn’t teach me bad stuff.
4. Ergo, YouTube must have lots of smart stuff I can learn.
Kids are smart, but their logic is sometimes faulty. For them, if they just watched something educational then whatever is linked to it/comes up next must be either (a) educational; or (b) Okay to watch. YouTube – and lots of other sites – aren’t built with that same logic. They aren’t built for the early elementary demographic.
Kids are eager to learn … and their experience in school has made them more so. So they start clicking away and that slippery slope is an avalanche. It isn’t enough that the video comes through one of the “kidsafe browsers” (e.g., Kidzui, Glubble) We have tried them and still the nefarious stuff gets through. On Kidzui the YouTube brand is on it, so the origin is still clear, and we are back at square one. In fact, on Kidzui’s site it says “crack up at the funniest videos, powered by YouTube.” Funniest according to whom?
PLEASE don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to pick on YouTube or Kidzui. I love them a
I am envious of kids today. They have the benefit of learning in so many different ways, with so many different tools. It is due in large part to changes in technology that make them accessible (at least in theory) to all.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE how teachers are bringing those tools into the classroom … their enthusiasm for reaching students of all ages in ways that are meaningful to them with tools that are relevant to their “future” life is just wonderful. I can’t thank them enough for all the unpaid time they invest for our kids.
But can we find an alternative to YouTube? Please?
Last week, our elementary school music teacher shared this video of Jake Breune playing “Only Girl (in the World)” by Rihanna on the zither. I loved his idea: show kids that music can be styled in different ways with different instruments or by repurposing the instrument. The teacher used a song they know and love … brilliant. As you’ll see, this is one in a series of “dueling videos” between Kurt and Jake recreating pop tunes on various instruments, real and unique.
The problem? When the video ends, “up next” is Lady Gaga and “Born this Way.” When we used to watch some of the Muppet songs, Lady Gaga was there too. Yes, I am the uncool mom. My 9-year-old doesn’t watch Lady Gaga videos. Catherine has gotten used to my explanation, but that doesn’t mean she likes it or stops asking me when I”ll change my mind. Not to mention how tired I am of repeating it, but that’s for another day.
Don’t get me wrong, I think there is a lot of incredibly creative, useful videos and tutorials on YouTube. But there is a lot of (ahem) crap, too, and no really good way to control what comes up next. In reality, sounding like a broken record is a small price to pay for protecting kids online. That said, it doesn’t have to be “this hard,” either.
When teachers play videos from YouTube there is an unspoken message that kids (or at least my kid) takes away.
1. Mr. x uses YouTube in school.
2. School is a place where I learn.
3. Mr. X is a teacher … he is in a position of authority … he is smart … he wouldn’t teach me bad stuff.
4. Ergo, YouTube must have lots of smart stuff I can learn.
Kids are smart, but their logic is sometimes faulty. For them, if they just watched something educational then whatever is linked to it/comes up next must be either (a) educational; or (b) Okay to watch. YouTube – and lots of other sites – aren’t built with that same logic. They aren’t built for the early elementary demographic.
Kids are eager to learn … and their experience in school has made them more so. So they start clicking away and that slippery slope is an avalanche. It isn’t enough that the video comes through one of the “kidsafe browsers” (e.g., Kidzui, Glubble) We have tried them and still the nefarious stuff gets through. On Kidzui the YouTube brand is on it, so the origin is still clear, and we are back at square one. In fact, on Kidzui’s site it says “crack up at the funniest videos, powered by YouTube.” Funniest according to whom?
PLEASE don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to pick on YouTube or Kidzui. I love them a
I am envious of kids today. They have the benefit of learning in so many different ways, with so many different tools. It is due in large part to changes in technology that make them accessible (at least in theory) to all.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE how teachers are bringing those tools into the classroom … their enthusiasm for reaching students of all ages in ways that are meaningful to them with tools that are relevant to their “future” life is just wonderful. I can’t thank them enough for all the unpaid time they invest for our kids.
But can we find an alternative to YouTube? Please?
Last week, our elementary school music teacher shared this video of Jake Breune playing “Only Girl (in the World)” by Rihanna on the zither. I loved his idea: show kids that music can be styled in different ways with different instruments or by repurposing the instrument. The teacher used a song they know and love … brilliant. As you’ll see, this is one in a series of “dueling videos” between Kurt and Jake recreating pop tunes on various instruments, real and unique.
The problem? When the video ends, “up next” is Lady Gaga and “Born this Way.” When we used to watch some of the Muppet songs, Lady Gaga was there too. Yes, I am the uncool mom. My 9-year-old doesn’t watch Lady Gaga videos. Catherine has gotten used to my explanation, but that doesn’t mean she likes it or stops asking me when I”ll change my mind. Not to mention how tired I am of repeating it, but that’s for another day.
Don’t get me wrong, I think there is a lot of incredibly creative, useful videos and tutorials on YouTube. But there is a lot of (ahem) crap, too, and no really good way to control what comes up next. In reality, sounding like a broken record is a small price to pay for protecting kids online. That said, it doesn’t have to be “this hard,” either.
When teachers play videos from YouTube there is an unspoken message that kids (or at least my kid) takes away.
1. Mr. x uses YouTube in school.
2. School is a place where I learn.
3. Mr. X is a teacher … he is in a position of authority … he is smart … he wouldn’t teach me bad stuff.
4. Ergo, YouTube must have lots of smart stuff I can learn.
Kids are smart, but their logic is sometimes faulty. For them, if they just watched something educational then whatever is linked to it/comes up next must be either (a) educational; or (b) Okay to watch. YouTube – and lots of other sites – aren’t built with that same logic. They aren’t built for the early elementary demographic.
Kids are eager to learn … and their experience in school has made them more so. So they start clicking away and that slippery slope is an avalanche. It isn’t enough that the video comes through one of the “kidsafe browsers” (e.g., Kidzui, Glubble) We have tried them and still the nefarious stuff gets through. On Kidzui the YouTube brand is on it, so the origin is still clear, and we are back at square one. In fact, on Kidzui’s site it says “crack up at the funniest videos, powered by YouTube.” Funniest according to whom?
PLEASE don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to pick on YouTube or Kidzui. I love them and the potential they offer our kids. I use YouTube for work. A lot. It is the default sourc
Welcome to the mid-April edition of the children’s literacy and reading news round-up, brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page, Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub blog, and Rasco from RIF is now available at Scrub-a-Dub-Tub. Over the past couple of weeks Jen Robinson, Carol Rasco, and I have collected plenty of content for you about literacy & reading-related events, programs, and research. Susan Stephenson (The Book Chook) sent me some cool links from Down Under that are included, and Carol Rasco will be back later this month with some reflections for these past 30-odd days and a look forward to next month.
To start us off, I’d like to share an excerpt of a Press Release I received from Reach Out and Read about Joining Forces, an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President. “Joining Forces aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society — citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government — to ensure military families have the support they have earned.” Reach Out and Read, an official partner of the initiative, will expand to 100 military bases, serving more than 200,000 children and families. It is great to see literacy as a cornerstone piece of this project.
Events
This one falls in the “wish I could have been there” category. At the recent Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival (London), four children’s laureates spoke about their childhood love of reading, as well as the projects they launched as Laureate. In her post at An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, Savita Kalhan summarized the presen
Welcome to the mid-April edition of the children’s literacy and reading news round-up, brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page, Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub blog, and Rasco from RIF is now available at Scrub-a-Dub-Tub. Over the past couple of weeks Jen Robinson, Carol Rasco, and I have collected plenty of content for you about literacy & reading-related events, programs, and research. Susan Stephenson (The Book Chook) sent me some cool links from Down Under that are included, and Carol Rasco will be back later this month with some reflections for these past 30-odd days and a look forward to next month.
To start us off, I’d like to share an excerpt of a Press Release I received from Reach Out and Read about Joining Forces, an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President. “Joining Forces aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society — citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government — to ensure military families have the support they have earned.” Reach Out and Read, an official partner of the initiative, will expand to 100 military bases, serving more than 200,000 children and families. It is great to see literacy as a cornerstone piece of this project.
Events
This one falls in the “wish I could have been there” category. At the recent Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival (London), four children’s laureates spoke about their childhood love of reading, as well as the projects they launched as Laureate. In her post at An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, Savita Kalhan summarized the presen
Welcome to the mid-April edition of the children’s literacy and reading news round-up, brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page, Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub blog, and Rasco from RIF is now available at Scrub-a-Dub-Tub. Over the past couple of weeks Jen Robinson, Carol Rasco, and I have collected plenty of content for you about literacy & reading-related events, programs, and research. Susan Stephenson (The Book Chook) sent me some cool links from Down Under that are included, and Carol Rasco will be back later this month with some reflections for these past 30-odd days and a look forward to next month.
To start us off, I’d like to share an excerpt of a Press Release I received from Reach Out and Read about Joining Forces, an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President. “Joining Forces aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society — citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government — to ensure military families have the support they have earned.” Reach Out and Read, an official partner of the initiative, will expand to 100 military bases, serving more than 200,000 children and families. It is great to see literacy as a cornerstone piece of this project.
Events
This one falls in the “wish I could have been there” category. At the recent Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival (London), four children’s laureates spoke about their childhood love of reading, as well as the projects they launched as Laureate. In her post at An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, Savita Kalhan summarized the presentations by Current Laureate Anthony Browne, and former Laureates: Anne Fine, Jacqueline Wilson, and Michael Rosen. “What unified them was their appreciation of books from a very young age – whether it was through teachers and school, through their parents , or through school libraries or local libraries. They loved books, they loved being read to when they were young, and they loved reading. This is essentially what they spent their term as Laureates promoting in schools.” Isn’t that banner just wonderful?
Speaking of banners &h
I have loved reading for as long as I can remember … lost for hours in the artistry of words woven together into incredible tapestries. When Miss Sauder, my seventh grade English teacher introduced us to parsing, it was like a behind-the-scenes tour. My love of words and reading is probably why I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English.
But it wasn’t until college that I fully understood my love for books. I spent my undergrad years as a Library Technical Assistant at the University of Charleston (WV). What started as a work-study job became a tailored internship because of my love of all things library. During the semester, my primary job was working in acquisitions and cataloging. During the summers, I did a little bit of everything – hours at the Circulation and Reference Desks, shelving, repair, creating bulletin boards, and dusting.
From then on, whenever anyone asked “what are you going to do with an English degree, teach?” my reply was “Nope. I’m going to be a librarian!” Fast forward 20-odd years.
By far, my favorite time was shelving. In the early 1980s, the library was housed in the main building, on the third and fourth floors of Riggleman Hall. (Now it is its own building!) Back then, the library’s main floor housed the Reference and Circulation Desks, the card catalog, periodicals, and study tables. It also looked up to the second floor, which was a balcony. My favorite place was hanging out with the books on the library’s third floor. There were just a few study carrels up there, and no one ever used them … except me. I wasn’t alone, the books were there, and so was the space to think or explore or hide from a boyfriend I was mad at or just study.
A couple weeks ago I was cleaning out some papers, and I found my library folder. There, in a nice neat pile were the application to the University of Maryland School of Library and Information Sciences, my acceptance letter, the scholarship letter, and my parking sticker. Other than orientation, I never spent much time at Maryland. Three weeks before my first steps toward a library career, I got a new job.
Long story short, the new job had lots of responsibility and training requirements. Even with a full ride to Maryland, I couldn’t afford mess up. I gave my new job everything I had – and spent 16 years loving it.
I haven’t given up on the idea of getting that MLIS one day. Today is not that day. Today is a day for thanking the librarians who over the years have shared their love of reading and books and inspired me to reach for the high shelf.
I think I’ll visit the library and thank them in person. Then I’ll grab a book, find a comfy quiet spot, and read … in their honor of course!
Copyright © 2011
Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub Blog. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact
[email protected] so we can take legal action immediately.
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I have loved reading for as long as I can remember … lost for hours in the artistry of words woven together into incredible tapestries. When Miss Sauder, my seventh grade English teacher introduced us to parsing, it was like a behind-the-scenes tour. My love of words and reading is probably why I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English.
But it wasn’t until college that I fully understood my love for books. I spent my undergrad years as a Library Technical Assistant at the University of Charleston (WV). What started as a work-study job became a tailored internship because of my love of all things library. During the semester, my primary job was working in acquisitions and cataloging. During the summers, I did a little bit of everything – hours at the Circulation and Reference Desks, shelving, repair, creating bulletin boards, and dusting.
From then on, whenever anyone asked “what are you going to do with an English degree, teach?” my reply was “Nope. I’m going to be a librarian!” Fast forward 20-odd years.
By far, my favorite time was shelving. In the early 1980s, the library was housed in the main building, on the third and fourth floors of Riggleman Hall. (Now it is its own building!) Back then, the library’s main floor housed the Reference and Circulation Desks, the card catalog, periodicals, and study tables. It also looked up to the second floor, which was a balcony. My favorite place was hanging out with the books on the library’s third floor. There were just a few study carrels up there, and no one ever used them … except me. I wasn’t alone, the books were there, and so was the space to think or explore or hide from a boyfriend I was mad at or just study.
A couple weeks ago I was cleaning out some papers, and I found my library folder. There, in a nice neat pile were the application to the University of Maryland School of Library and Information Sciences, my acceptance letter, the scholarship letter, and my parking sticker. Other than orientation, I never spent much time at Maryland. Three weeks before my first steps toward a library career, I got a new job.
Long story short, the new job had lots of responsibility and training requirements. Even with a full ride to Maryland, I couldn’t afford mess up. I gave my new job everything I had – and spent 16 years loving it.
I haven’t given up on the idea of getting that MLIS one day. Today is not that day. Today is a day for thanking the librarians who over the years have shared their love of reading and books and inspired me to reach for the high shelf.
I think I’ll visit the library and thank them in person. Then I’ll grab a book, find a comfy quiet spot, and read … in their honor of course!
Copyright © 2011
Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub Blog. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact
[email protected] so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana<
I have loved reading for as long as I can remember … lost for hours in the artistry of words woven together into incredible tapestries. When Miss Sauder, my seventh grade English teacher introduced us to parsing, it was like a behind-the-scenes tour. My love of words and reading is probably why I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English.
But it wasn’t until college that I fully understood my love for books. I spent my undergrad years as a Library Technical Assistant at the University of Charleston (WV). What started as a work-study job became a tailored internship because of my love of all things library. During the semester, my primary job was working in acquisitions and cataloging. During the summers, I did a little bit of everything – hours at the Circulation and Reference Desks, shelving, repair, creating bulletin boards, and dusting.
From then on, whenever anyone asked “what are you going to do with an English degree, teach?” my reply was “Nope. I’m going to be a librarian!” Fast forward 20-odd years.
By far, my favorite time was shelving. In the early 1980s, the library was housed in the main building, on the third and fourth floors of Riggleman Hall. (Now it is its own building!) Back then, the library’s main floor housed the Reference and Circulation Desks, the card catalog, periodicals, and study tables. It also looked up to the second floor, which was a balcony. My favorite place was hanging out with the books on the library’s third floor. There were just a few study carrels up there, and no one ever used them … except me. I wasn’t alone, the books were there, and so was the space to think or explore or hide from a boyfriend I was mad at or just study.
A couple weeks ago I was cleaning out some papers, and I found my library folder. There, in a nice neat pile were the application to the University of Maryland School of Library and Information Sciences, my acceptance letter, the scholarship letter, and my parking sticker. Other than orientation, I never spent much time at Maryland. Three weeks before my first steps toward a library career, I got a new job.
Long story short, the new job had lots of responsibility and training requirements. Even with a full ride to Maryland, I couldn’t afford mess up. I gave my new job everything I had – and spent 16 years loving it.
I haven’t given up on the idea of getting that MLIS one day. Today is not that day. Today is a day for thanking the librarians who over the years have shared their love of reading and books and inspired me to reach for the high shelf.
I think I’ll visit the library and thank them in person. Then I’ll grab a book, find a comfy quiet spot, and read … in their honor of course!
One of my favorite places in the whole world is the library. They are just treasure troves of great information and enthusiastic readers. And while I think we should celebrate libraries every day, we have one week each year where we raise a national cheer for our libraries and all of the librarians who connect us with book. National Library Week starts T-O-D-A-Y, and Cville’s own John Grisham is the Honorary Chair.
I’ll be back later this week with a personal story about my dream to be a librarian, but today, our contribution to the celebration is a reprint of a Booklights post I did in 2009. There is one note I would add … you might also see if your child’s school library is accessible on line, too. We have a county-wide system that lets you search your school’s catalog and also use resources like Tumblebooks.
Fuzzy Slippers, Coffee, and Sneaking in the Library
originally published on Booklights, 10 November 2009
Just the other morning, I grabbed a cup of coffee and visited my library. I was still in my pajamas. It was okay, the librarians didn’t mind. In fact, they didn’t even notice. Why? Because I was visiting the library from the comfort of my house.
Don’t get me wrong, I L-O-V-E going to the library. Frankly, if I could live there, I would. There are times, though, when the library’s hours don’t work for my schedule. So I improvise. One of the great things about living in the 21st century is that we can go to the library whenever the mood strikes. It doesn’t matter that the library itself isn’t open, we can check on – or check out – all of the wonderful offerings that live there. Many (if not most) library systems have at least a Web site with an online catalog of their holdings.
As an example, in my local library – Jefferson-Madison Regional Library – I can search for talking books (aka audio books, books on tape, books on CD), videos, musical recordings, scripts for plays, and of course, books. I can find them by subject, author, and title; and in a HUGE leap from the card catalog I grew up with, I can find them by just about any keyword, too.
Aside from the “cool” factor of searching the stacks with coffee in hand, what makes visiting the library after hours so great is the opportunity it creates for parents and readers alike. Here are some ways that those early morning or late night visits can help you.
Reserve books you want to read<
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