"Reluctant" readers are often those who have little access to books. How do you develop a love for something with little or no access? Is this why our nations's literacy rates are poor? Start today building a home library for your children, nieces and nephew, or grandchildren. Need help getting started go FreshStart Literacy on Facebook to find out more!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Dad and Son flip tassels together!
It's never to late!
Friday, June 4, 2010
To Be or Not to Be Literate? What does it all mean?
Let us look at the facts, facts that we have possibly read or heard before:
- The U.S. Census Bureau reports that “adults 18 and older with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $79,946, while those with less than a high school diploma earned about $19,915.” Adults with a “bachelor’s degree earned an average of $54,689 in 2005 while those with a high school diploma earned $29,448.” (Census Bureau, 2007)
- One in three adults cannot read this sentence.(National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003)
- Low health literacy was the top predictor of mortality after smoking, also surpassing income and years of education, the study showed. Most of the difference in mortality among people with inadequate literacy was due to higher rates of death from cardiovascular disease.” (Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 2007)
- 85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate. (National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2003)
- Today one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women while 75 million children are out of school. Since its founding in 1946, UNESCO has been at the forefront of global literacy efforts and is dedicated to keeping literacy high on national, regional and international agendas. However, with some 776 million adults lacking minimum literacy skills, literacy for all remains an elusive target.
- Literacy programs in Texas are only serving 3.6% of the 3.8 million in need of adult basic education services. (Texas LEARNS, April 2005)
How do we foster within society a need for education/literacy? How do fund remediation programs for families? We have the facts, we see the manifestation of the facts daily in reports about an aging society that lacks basic skills. Is there a solution? Yes! Advocacy. We must become advocates for Education - for Literacy; the power of self-sufficiency, the garden of opportunities yet to be grown within communities, literacy changes lives and inspires communities.
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. Epictetus
Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Follow FreshStart Literacy, Inc.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
What is Family Literacy?
What is family literacy? An educational solution to address the social foundation of poverty: poverty due to low literacy rates. Family literacy is a program that offers literacy instruction for the whole family versus adults only with separate instruction/tutoring for children. Family literacy helps to limit some barriers to success, such as un/underemployment, poverty, poor health and inadequate housing. When parents battle with literacy and basic life skills, the children often have restricted opportunities for success. Family literacy is “education’s intervention” attempting to eradicate this destructive cycle giving families the tools they need to leave a legacy of education for generations to come! Parents are typically eager to assist in the terms of their children's educational development however due to the lack of time in double-income households, deficient parental literacy, and familial financial constraints many are neither able to teach nor able to finance their children’s supplemental educational endeavors. This is where the FreshStart Literacy meets the need by providing its services made available by sliding scale payments, government and foundational grants as well as other funding options.
Family literacy offers educational opportunities for each family member to improve literacy levels, life skills, increase self-esteem and provide hope for self-sufficiency. This is based on idea that parents and children learn optimally when educationally engaged together. Family literacy inspires families and communities!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Preventing the “Summer Slide”
Are you interested in Summer Enrichment for your children? Do you have children who are struggling readers? Perhaps they are marginally reading on level. FreshStart Literacy offers tutoring for grades kinder- 4th grade in the Fort Worth, TX area. For more information about how to get your son/daughter involved leave your name and child's grade level in the discussion tab (FreshStart Literacy: Summer Bridge) along with any area of concern that we can address. Avoid the "Academic Slide" that happens during the summer months; sign- up today to keep your child on track for academic success. The "Academic slide" for educator’s means that for the first two months or so of the fall semester, teachers are spending precious hours of instruction with remedial work, assisting students in getting back on track and ready to receive new instruction. These first four to six week are pivotal even for students who are already performing on level at the end of June. However, if your student has become frustrated due to this summer achievement gap, it could result in poor classroom behavior; reductions in your student’s confidence and further demonstrate itself in low self-esteem. A study done in the Grand Rapids Public Schools from 2003 and 2004 showed the summer learning loss reached almost 40 percent for some of their students. Let’s have One Crazy Summer
and prevent the “Summer Slide” by turning our attention to books instead of hours of video games, and keeping some type of educational focus/structure throughout the summer months. If you know a neighbor or a friend that may need assistance, share this information with them the bottom line is to help student’s with academic success eradicating illiteracy making All Things Bright and Beautiful
!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tutoring Brought My Self Worth Back! | educacionintegrada.org
Tutoring Brought My Self Worth Back! educacionintegrada.org: "Tutoring Brought My Self Worth Back!
Tutoring came like a bright ray of hope in my academic life when all else failed and I was unsure of what to do with myself. On reflection, I feel how stupid I was not to have believed in myself and in my capabilities, which is probably why I was what I was. But that was then, and the present is absolutely different, since the arrival of my private tutor. She changed everything – seriously! She helped me change my perspective, my attitude, helped me believe in myself, and all this brought a high boost to my self worth. Well I am not still sure how she did that. But I really admire her skills and patience in handling me and moulding me into what I am now."
Tutoring can change a persons life! The benefits of tutoring include:
*an increase in the self-esteem of the individual receiving the service
*promotes emotional support and creates positive role models
*breaks down social barriers
*also improves the indivdual outlook on Education (hopefully creating lifelong learners)
these are just to name a few. Literacy provides indivuals with hope for their future.
Become an Education Advocate!
Help some see the hidden possibilites within!
Monday, April 26, 2010
What's it like to be Illiterate?
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washington/news.aspx?id=138333
"Whether because of a learning disability or because of poor education, family situations or immigration, illiterate adults struggle to hold jobs, use computers, pay bills and accomplish other tasks that skilled readers take for granted."
We FreshStart Literacy are an organization whose goal is to do our part to eradicate illiteracy within families and then on to communities!
"Whether because of a learning disability or because of poor education, family situations or immigration, illiterate adults struggle to hold jobs, use computers, pay bills and accomplish other tasks that skilled readers take for granted."
We FreshStart Literacy are an organization whose goal is to do our part to eradicate illiteracy within families and then on to communities!
Home Library - Favorite Children's books
What is your favorite children's book? Have you read this one? Good Night Moon
is a simple story packed with so much opportunity for discussion with your child. Reading this story allows you to share rich vocabulary exchanges. This story has a great literary quality and would add value to any home library or classroom. Use Bloom's Taxonomy to develop and improve understanding, literary appreciation and to develop active readers.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
ACLU: Stop extremist takeover of textbooks.
ACLU: Stop extremist takeover of textbooks.
Here are some of the proposed rule changes:
Rule Section Number: §113.44(c)(1) Read about this section»
Concern: This rule is intended to promote the idea that there is no historical separation of church and state.
Rule Section Number: §113.41(c)(17) Read about this section»
Concern: This amendment is designed to portray social reforms as having unintended negative consequences.
Rule Section Number: §113.41(c)(9) Read about this section»
Concern: The Board wants to portray the historic efforts to extend rights to those who have been denied them as nothing more than a gift from the majority, while downplaying the social movements that truly caused these changes. In addition, the Board is attempting to portray the Democrats as the party of bigotry.
Rule Section Number: §113.20(b)(7) Read about this section»
Concern: The Board is trying to downplay the role slavery played as a contributing factor to the cause of the Civil War.
What Happened When Kindergarten Went Universal? : Education Next
What Happened When Kindergarten Went Universal? : Education Next: "What Happened When Kindergarten Went Universal?"
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Family Literacy! Education makes the difference.
Consider Family Literacy! Most often children can not get the homework help the need at home because the parent's are not equipped to assist.
www.facebook.com/FreshStartLiteracy
www.facebook.com/FreshStartLiteracy
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Home Library Key to Academic Success | Smart Journalism. Real Solutions. | Miller-McCune Online Magazine
"Growing up in a home with 500 books would propel a child 3.2 years further in education, on average, than would growing up in a similar home with few or no books." Who new the amount of books in your home could propel your children into the prestigious realm of higher education?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Facebook | Texans for Financial Literacy
Financial Literacy is important for Adult and children as well let's leave a legacy of Education and Literacy for generations to come.
Facebook | Texans for Financial Literacy: "MONEY-MINDED BOOKS FOR YOUR CHILD’S SPRING READING LIST"
check out this reading list: http://tinyurl.com/y83luhv
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Texas Education Agency - STAAR debuts
Texas Education Agency - STAAR debuts
State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, STAAR to replace TAKS
This new test will be used beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. This test is said to be more vigorous than it's predecessor. The end-of-course testing requirements must be meet starting with the 2015 graduating class (as well as passing all classes) in order to graduate. Educators are we ready! Can we progressively and systematically prepare our students?
The main difference in the two assessments (TAKS and the STAAR) is that the TAKS is during course testing and the STAAR in end of course testing. In other words TAKS is previous and some present grade level testing and STAAR is primarily present grade level testing.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Challenge!
What are you doing to make your city, community, neighborhood, or household more literate!
Volunteer at your local library...
Volunteer to read to a group of children...
Volunteer at a local group focused on Adult Literacy...
Add opportunities...
Volunteer at your local library...
Volunteer to read to a group of children...
Volunteer at a local group focused on Adult Literacy...
Add opportunities...
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