"Unfair" Bedtime Stories?

A philosopher and professor at University of Warwick in England has made a suggestion that should make every children's librarian sick to their stomach.  The professor, Adam Swift, suggests that reading to children before bedtimes gives an unfair advantage to children from supportive homes to achieve in their academic endeavors.  Children are not read to at night, don't fare as well.  This should be a celebration of family bonding.  Not only that but it should be encouraged world wide.  This is exactly what librarians have been advocating for decades.  Read to your child.  It is sincerely hoped that this professor is being misquoted and that there is not need to be alarmed.  However, there is a way of turning this thought around to be advantageous for all children.

Since Professor Swift correctly states that reading to children at bedtime is a good thing, the best response would be to promote this activity to every family.  PSA announcements, reminders to parents at schools, and perhaps even establishing a volunteer effort to read to children who don't have the luxury of someone at home to read to them.   These are just a few ideas but surely some of them could work to give every child an opportunity to be read to.

Additionally, librarians should continue advocating for reading to children (at any time of the day) so as to prove and persuade that this is a better alternative than not reading to children.  Which is what Professor Swift seems to be suggesting in his theory of "fairness".    It is true that it is almost impossible to be sure that every child is read to but librarians can continue to remind parents, and even neighbors, that reading to one child is better than not reaching out to any child.

Last but not least, here is a personal challenge to Professor Swift, should he really believe that reading to children is unfair.   Do your part in making things equal for all children.  Read to a child in your family, or your neighborhood or go to a local library in England and discover if there are programs just for the purpose of filling in the void for children who have no one to read to them.  If England's libraries do not have these programs then perhaps it is time that they begin.

The Debate About Third Grade Reading Levels

In the past couple of years , there have been several articles that have brought up the fact that the reading levels among elementary school children is low.  Actually, there are some states that have passed laws stating that a child can not go on to fourth grade until they have mastered the reading level of third grade. Some educators argue that holding back a child would be more harmful then helpful.   Reading skills and preschool was  among the topic of President Obama's 2013  State of the Union address.  The president was hoping to get bipartisan support to help children  in low income areas the opportunity for preschool education which may enable them to get a head start in the right direction.  In 2015, the debate is far from over.  One thing remains clear, when separating the emotions from the rhetoric,  everyone can agree that strong reading skills are necessary for a success in every area of life  Where the debate get's muddled, is how can educators, librarians, parents and even politicians find the perfect answer to this complex problem?

Studies have shown that students who are not reading at their grade level or lower are four times less likely to graduate from high school (http://www.aecf.org/resources/double-jeopardy/).  Consider what that means for a moment.  It's harder to get a job without a high school diploma.  Chances are these students will be living at poverty level.  What is the percentage of high school drop outs who are incarcerated?  In a 2009 study by Northwestern University it is a staggering 63%.   In this day and time in America, this is just not acceptable.

If all indicators,  statistical as well as anecdotal data, point to Third grade level reading skills as the tipping point of success or failure for students, why is there still a debate on how to handle the problem?

Simple.  From educators to parents, school boards and public officials, everyone has an answer but few realize the common sense solution.  The only proven way to encourage and improve reading skills if it is promoted in the home.  This can not be legislated.  It can only be promoted and encouraged from professionals to parents.   From the very beginning, parents should be reminded that reading to a child is beneficial on so many levels.  From emotional,  quality time spent with a child interacting with them,  to the cerebral when tiny minds are absorbing new ideas, words and imaginative worlds.  It is priceless.  In many homes,  reading is not encouraged either because there are no books or the adults in the house do not read for pleasure.   In June of 2014 the American Academy of Pediatrics jumped on the bandwagon of urging parents to read to their babies from day one.  It's an important step forward in helping to bring reading levels up for all children.  Let's not forget that the public library has many ways to promote reading.

One of the best books about how reading aloud impacts a child was written by Mem Fox, notable children's authors. In her book,  Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, (which is a quick read), Ms. Fox demonstrates with passion and humor how reading aloud to a child helps them want to learn to read themselves.  How it stimulus the emotional and intellectual part of learning paving the path to lifelong readers.   If parents are too busy to read Ms. Fox's book, then at least they should be given the statistics that were given earlier in hopes that it will encourage them to at least change  habits at home.  For example, set aside fifteen minutes a day to read with the child.  Find ways to participate in library programs such as story times, or other children programs that encourage early reading.  Many of these programs are on Saturdays or evenings to accommodate busy work schedules.  In a nut shell, educate and encourage the parents so that there is no excuse not to read to children.

Is a person who is illiterate as an adult out of luck when it comes to learning this skill?  Not at all.  It's never to late to learn to read.   That discussion will be saved for next week's post.

Read To A Child...

March has been designate as National reading month. This proclamation seems kind of odd since many assume reading comes was to most and why celebrate reading? Good questions. The answers are obvious, at least from the perspective behind the librarian's desk. It is reading that promotes life long learning and self-sufficiency. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to explain the benefits. A child can demonstrate it beautifully in action. Children who are read to have better speaking sills, learn to read sooner then their peers who are not read to, develop a better vocabulary and have a longer attention span. So much is gained by just fifteen minutes a day. Children who learn to read at an early age are more likely to succeed in school. This is not just an opinion, it's been documented by educational researchers and anecdotal evidence as well. A study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, "Double Jeopardy" (2011). The statics found here are startling. In this study it was found that children in Third grade who had poor reading sills were less likely to continue through to graduate from high school. Quite frankly, this is an unacceptable situation. Children in every neighborhood deserve better schools, better libraries and better homes. But how can they demand anything when they can not vote. They need someone to be their voice. This trend can be reversed with one small step at a time. It can begin with countering to read to a child in your neighborhood. For the educational professional, it could begin with taking every opportunity to promote reading in the classroom and in the home. Schools and public libraries can find creative ways to work together to co-sponsor programs that get children excited about reading. It can begin with summer reading programs (which children librarians are all ready in the planning stages for Summer 2014) and possibly stretch into other months of great programming ideas. The list of programming ideas are endless. When collaboration begins between two like minded professions it is amazing what can be done. More importantly it is a positive step to help children from any neighborhood and every home. There are very few people who would disagree with the notion that reading is not an important skill for children to learn. However there are too many who will dismiss the value of reading to a child or taking children to the public library on a regular basis. The main complaint is that there is not enough time to read or to go to the library. Let's put it in perspective that might make the picture clearer. Time is a precious commodity for children as well. Everyday they are not read to, encouraged to pick up a book or taken to the library is time lost and wasted. It's only in a blink of an eye and they will be responsible adults of the community. How sad will that be that these future adults won't have the reading skills needed to survive? Think that's over the top? Read a prescription bottle. Now think of someone who has to take that medicine and has no idea what it says on the label. READ to a child .... today.