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What You Can Do
Can you read this?
by Lynette Majer

Reading seems like such a simple skill, something most of us take for granted. I was excited to learn to read and clearly remember sitting around the small table with the big red reading book while Miss Higer pointed to each word as my fellow classmates and I recited them earnestly. I was also fortunate enough to have parents who read aloud to me and provided encouragement for me to learn to read by myself.

Parental involvement is a key success factor when learning to read and is likely a missing component for many children in California – more than half of fourth-grade students are unable to read at that level.

There are more unsettling statistics:

• A Stanford University study found third graders who read below grade level are significantly less likely to graduate from high school, and significantly more likely to spend time in jail.

• The correlation between illiteracy and incarceration rates is so consistent that the California State prison system monitors third-grade reading levels to project
the number of cells required in the future.

• Nearly 50 percent of second graders in San Francisco read below the basic level.
The Bay Area Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL) is dedicated to reversing these statistics “one child at a time.” Through book drives, volunteer tutors, and by developing advocacy groups in public education, the group strives to reverse the disturbing trend of illiteracy in our children.

Volunteers need only complete one two-and-a-half-hour training session that focuses on one-to-one tutoring and reading aloud techniques that have been developed to not only meet – but exceed – state and school district standards. After completing the training, tutors then volunteer at a location of their choice and on a schedule that is convenient for them. There are onsite programs at schools, after school, and evening programs. A one-hour-per-week time commitment for the school year is requested where volunteers provide one-on-one tutoring, or read aloud to several students in small groups.

The JCL has scheduled the following community tutor training sessions this month at its offices (121 Steuart St., Suite 301):
• Thursday, Sept. 11, 5:45–8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, 5:45–8:30 p.m.

There are also other ways to help fight child illiteracy, such as organizing a book drive, or by donating the books for the JCL to use in its tutoring programs. There’s even a fun idea that the JCL calls “The Centerpiece Project”: Use a gift-wrapped book as a centerpiece at your next party, and then donate the book to the public schools. Theme parties are almost always a hit, so why not ask your guests to bring a book as part of the donation? Wouldn’t everyone want to help share the joy of reading and bring more books into the lives of children?

Illiteracy is not only a social stigma, but it severely impacts a person’s ability to function in society. There are many reasons illiteracy happens, whether it’s uninvolved parents, poor teachers, or a lack of a caring role model. It takes just a small effort of donating books or volunteering an hour a week to help eradicate illiteracy. If you can read this article, you can become a powerful reading advocate!

Jewish Coalition for Literacy: 121 Steuart Street, Suite 301, www.jclread.org. For additional information, contact Helene Tinkler, program manager, 415-369-9978 ext. 100, jcl-sf@jcrc.org

E-mail: lynette@northsidesf.com


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