Let’s Read America!

“Show”   Our Children Reading

“Our people perish for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6. 

     Though wisdom comes from God and understanding comes by experience, knowledge comes from books.  Children mimic what they see.  Encourage your child to read by example. Purchase a book today for you and your child.  Start being a good example and read.  “Show” your child how important it is to read!

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         Promises From God For Parents by Jakes T D is filled with  inspirational Bible verses and passages, as well as his own personal understanding and insight, Bishop T.D. Jakes guides mothers and fathers through the challenges and rewards of being a parent-along the way illustrating how every family can achieve a stronger relationship with God. Filled with Bishop Jakes’s wisdom on such important topics as self-control, patience, tough love, respect, and forgiveness, this is an essential tool for navigating the emotional and complex path of parenthood in today’s ever-changing world.  Show your child that reading is an activity  to be enjoyed!   

Click here to order:  http://www.empowerachildbookstore.30fold.com/

A Nation At-Risk- Our Children Still Can't Read

          The term literacy has become a favorite topic for educators and politicians. “Literacy is an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English; compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society; to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential.” (NIFL, April 2000) Close to thirty percent of the American population over age sixteen have profound literacy deficiencies. This means millions of people lack adequate reading, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary for proper survival.

          According to the National Institute for Literacy, poverty and literacy are directly linked. Statistics show that more lower income level students drop out of school than students of higher income levels. Additionally, the reading and writing levels of young people is closely related to the educational levels of parents. Literacy has also been linked to increased civil behavior and the inability to formulate higher levels of thought in problem solving skills and knowledge that creates resources necessary for civil obedience.  It is 2007, and nothing has changed.  As a matter of fact when you read the news and examine grades and tests scores of our youth people,  it seems as though it has gotten worse. 

           High school dropouts of families who have not endeavored to improve their economic status are typically children of parents who dropped out as well. It is conceivable that these families were key in creating inadequate literate behavior in their children. Without further education and training these parents become rooted in their own deficiencies and poverty stricken lifestyle that they are not able to address the growing needs of their children. Therefore the cycle of illiteracy is more difficult to break.  Adolescence is a terrible time to get  become trapped in hopelessness. 

          According to a 2005 drop out report, in the state of Illinois alone, approximately 12,871 students between the ages of 13-21 dropped out of school.  We clearly have a problem!  All of us!

          The solution is simple, families must encourage reading in the home and school administrations must allow teachers to encourage reading in the classroom instead of tests, tests, and more tests. 

Works Cited

The NIFL responds to the findings of the Reading Literacy Study, highlighting the importance of parents’ education to children’s school achievement. National Institute for Literacy. Government Printing Office. April 2000. http:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tell us what you think.