Reading

     After my ACT post on 1/24/15,  I received some requests for reading lists- I have put them as well as other resources on PAGES at the top of the blog.

     First, a Disclaimer.  I am not a professional educator.  I am just a Black middle class mom, who has been on a 24 year journey to ensure my own kids received the type of education they needed to be successful adults.  I am neither a public school basher nor a homeschool advocate. I have been involved in both.   I am a parent advocate.  I believe God expects us to raise our kids, protect, nurture, prepare and launch them.  In this role, we must use whatever resources are necessary to help us achieve this lofty goal. Sharing the information, knowledge and resources I've gained over the years is my purpose for Fortify!  Armed with help, middle class parents can beat the odds of their kids not doing well.
    
     There is a huge body of information available on reading, yet reading scores for Black middle class kids remain low.  All the knowledge in the world won't help if we don't access it and then insist our children do what they are supposed to.  I will be developing posts addressing the critical benchmarks parents should be aware of with reading.  If you are a middle class or even a working class parent you can ensure your child can reach these benchmarks.  There is no excuse for anyone to find out all of a sudden that their 7th grade child can't really read that well.  We should know what they are doing and how they are doing  throughout their education.

     There are tools you can use in your home to determine where you child is at.  You will need to spend time with your kids daily (or at least a couple of times a week), have them read to you- out loud even into high school.  Then take note of what you find and don't criticize- strategize. If you feel like you don't know or can't tell what they are doing wrong, then there is no problem in looking up word together in the dictionary. Learning is something that we should all arrive to do every single day. That is how growth happens, a little bit at a time. Everyday.

    A good plan would be:
1) Read my post Reading Resources Part 1
2) Use one of the tools for reading assessment under Pages
3) Pick a reading list & set a reading goal

Let me know how I can help!
Gloria J. Adams
Fortify!

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free"

- Frederick Douglass.