I recently read a fitness article that indicated that a few minutes of activity every hour or so for us sedentary desk-bound workers could accumulate into a sizeable boost in personal fitness over time. I submit that the same is true for the value of a few precious moments reading while waiting for the bus, or the dentist, […]
When taking into consideration all of the inventions since long before the modern era, our progress in communication, transportation, medicine and government all pale in comparison to the impact of the movable-type printing press that has given us mass-produced books. Allowing us to share ideas and sentiments across the globe, and to communicate our culture and […]
Today, Stefan Åge Hardonk Nielsen, an English teacher at Vonsild School near Kolding, Denmark, is leading his young students in translating simple English picture books into their native Danish language. These U.S.A. focused books were originally published in English for “new readers” of any age, but are deemed appropriate content for all children ages birth though early primary. Mr. Nielsen’s students […]
That news appeared recently here in Louisville, Ky. However, that very percentage has been used this year to describe lack of school-preparedness in children across the United States. My first reaction was one that calls for some actual investigative journalism to answer the question of why Kindergarten classes, by and large, are not ready for half the students […]
When a learner’s family and community commit to developing full literacy for everyone, there are at least two principles that guide efforts in that development: The community must ensure its literacy learners have ready access to abundant good books to read (“good” meaning relevant to each learner’s life). Those closest to literacy learners must ensure they are […]
I recently reviewed the latest Scholastic Kids and Family Reading Report (2014) and was struck by the many interesting statistics shared through this well-designed survey about book reading by children and families. For example, 60 percent of the more than 2500 parents surveyed said they received the advice from someone that reading books to children from birth […]
Families with young children need books. Lots of books! Why? For starters, research conducted in many countries around the globe prove that the number of books present in a child’s home are an absolute predictor of his academic success.* Books in the home can lead to enriched conversations that occur there. New ideas, new topics, […]
Today I read a heart-warming article in the Nerdy Book Club blog by a man who loved picture books when he was a child. As a boy, he had no interest in chapter or age-appropriate books; he just wanted to read what he wanted to read. Specifically, he wanted to enjoy the illustrations and photos […]
Individuals can decide to learn something relatively complicated on their own. And left to their own devices, most folks figure out how to use available resources to make learning a relaxed, fulfilling project. Consider the following examples: Example A – A four year old watched with envy as his much taller, six-year-old brother rode his new bicycle. […]
As I write this, it’s the first full day of autumn. Schools are now in high gear and kids are starting to trade in their shorts and T-shirts for jeans and hoodies, fending off the early morning chill. Here at Unite for Literacy, kids are showing up in rapidly growing numbers, reading again in our free online […]
