Speak It! Speak It! Read It! Read It! Write It!Write It!

It’s Everybody’s Business…It’s Everybody’s Business…

By: Kimberly Bell-BurkeBy: Kimberly Bell-Burke

What is Literacy?What is Literacy?

It involves the ability to read with It involves the ability to read with fluency and comprehend what is read. fluency and comprehend what is read. It also involves being able to express It also involves being able to express complex ideas in a written format.complex ideas in a written format.

Literacy is the basic unit for education. Literacy is the basic unit for education. The common link that ties every The common link that ties every discipline, everyday for every child is discipline, everyday for every child is his or her ability to read and his or her ability to read and comprehend that which is read. comprehend that which is read.

Did you Know?Did you Know?Words Heard Per Words Heard Per HourHour

Cumulative Cumulative Vocabulary Vocabulary

Age 4 Age 4

Children from Lower Children from Lower income Familiesincome Families

500 Words500 Words 13 Million Words13 Million Words

Children from Children from Working Class Working Class FamiliesFamilies

700 Words700 Words 22 Million Words22 Million Words

Children from Children from Professional FamiliesProfessional Families

1100 Words1100 Words 45 Million Words45 Million Words

How Do We Become Better How Do We Become Better Readers?Readers?

By listening to others who read well.By listening to others who read well. By frequently practicing reading on and By frequently practicing reading on and

above level.above level. By reading aloud to others or recording By reading aloud to others or recording

ourselves reading.ourselves reading. By improving your vocabulary.By improving your vocabulary. By Utilizing the five key questions…By Utilizing the five key questions…

5 Key Question5 Key Question

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

How?

Why Writing?Why Writing? Helps students organize, extend, and deepen knowledge Helps students organize, extend, and deepen knowledge

gained from reading.gained from reading.

Is not a “frill for the few but an essential skill for the Is not a “frill for the few but an essential skill for the many.”many.”

Can make or break someone’s chances for employment Can make or break someone’s chances for employment or promotion.or promotion.

80% of the companies in the fields of finance, insurance, 80% of the companies in the fields of finance, insurance, and real-estate assess writing during hiring.and real-estate assess writing during hiring.

-National Commission of Writing-National Commission of Writing

Ideas to Enhance Literacy Ideas to Enhance Literacy Keep books in your car for your children Keep books in your car for your children

to read.to read. Buy books on CD’s for all to listen to.Buy books on CD’s for all to listen to. Subscribe to your children’s favorite Subscribe to your children’s favorite

magazine.magazine. Subscribe to the local and national Subscribe to the local and national

newspapers.newspapers. Make sure your child has access to the Make sure your child has access to the

internet.internet.

Ideas for Literacy at HomeIdeas for Literacy at Home

Establish a set time for reading in the Establish a set time for reading in the home such as Sunday evenings.home such as Sunday evenings.

Use weekends to visit the library and Use weekends to visit the library and ensure that your child has a library ensure that your child has a library card.card.

Give rewards for completing a reading Give rewards for completing a reading list.list.

Ask for summer reading lists from the Ask for summer reading lists from the previous year.previous year.