Often, I get into discussions with people about my passion for literacy.
Frequently, people tell me:
- Parents just need to read to their children.
- Kids need to read more.
- Texting is the problem.
- Inner city kids need their parents’ help. Maybe the parents can’t read.
These issues may be somewhat valid, but you need to dig deeper to understand illiteracy. While 80% of urban children read below grade level; our suburban children struggle in larger numbers than you would ever believe.
Governor Mike DeWine is concerned about our children’s reading. Forty percent of Ohio’s children cannot pass Ohio’s third grade reading test. He also said that our children need phonics taught with the Science of Reading principles.
We have worked with thousands of children and adults in the last 30+ years. Here are some of our results:
Fifteen-year -old David was from an affluent family two years behind in school finishing the eighth grade. He couldn’t read. In just two years, he gained five grade levels and was at a college level in reading comprehension. He went onto college, law school and is now a practicing lawyer.
Bob graduated from Cleveland State, but couldn’t read his diploma. In just two months he read his first book, “Of Mice and Men”. He passed the CPA exam.
Tony was a first grader that couldn’t read. His dad was a professional working at a university, his mother was a nurse. He learned to read.
John was an eighth grader who couldn’t read. In one summer, he gained six grade levels in reading.
Mary had a 140 IQ, in one summer she went from a poor reader to signing up for an honors English class.
We worked with a doctor that couldn’t read the pharmaceutical terms to pass his licensure exam. He learned our reading system and passed his exam.
Until we teach our children with multi-sensory systematic phonics … the science of reading, our children will continue to fail. This is not just an urban problem; it is a national crisis!