I have a question for all you parents out there:
How many of you want your children to live with you for the rest of your life?
Anyone?? Anyone?? Bueller?
Well that is what will happen if they do not know how to read.
I was very fortunate to join a bunch of colleagues yesterday in Macon and learn about early literacy and how it affects the future of our children.
Some of the statistics were unbelievable. I didn't know that 70% of children in Georgia will not read on grade level by third grade and that 82% of low income will not read on grade level.
For those who don't think that reading scores in third grade matter, consider this: 3rd grade literacy scores are used by jails to figure out how many beds they will need in the future.
That's pretty eye opening.
So what do you do as a parent or guardian?
READ. TALK. ENGAGE.
Read to your infant, read to your child. Read cereal boxes, arrange canned goods in alphabetical order, name businesses as you drive by in the car, speak to your child - not googly baby talk either - have a conversation. Yes, it sounds silly to tell a 6 month old about your day but the more they hear language (from a person not a TV), the more literate they become.
Check this site out for more ideas and standards: http://www.gelds.decal.ga.gov/Default.aspx
Well, that's enough preaching from me for now.
Have a great day!