Read a Book, Buy a Book, and Literacy Days - Celebrate the Day
There are 3 Celebrate the Days coming up that are near and very dear to my 
heart.
Sunday, September 6 if Read a Book Day
Monday, September 7 is Buy a Book Day
and finally
Tuesday, September 8 is International Literacy Day.
I know I’ve told this story before, but in my previous life, I did psychological testing for adults reentering society after being the guests of the state. I had to administer a reading test first to see if they could read above the 3rd-grade level.
There were so many who could not read at this level that I could only wonder how their life might have been different had they been able to read.
1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning how to read.*
Literacy is the key to the growth and sustainability of any country or culture. For us, it begins in our own backyard.
For those of us in Delray Beach, we are fortunate to have 2 libraries in our area:
The Delray Beach Public Library
100 West Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561-266-0194
The Hagen Ranch Road Branch of the Palm Beach County Library System
14350 Hagen Ranch Road
Delray Beach FL 33446
561-894-7500
More than 60% of all inmates are functionally illiterate.*
Delray Beach is also part of the National Campaign for Grade-Level
Reading.
With over half of our students between Kindergarten and 3rd Grade unable to read at grade level, it has become a community-wide effort to focus on programs that will help our children learn to read.
How you can celebrate…
1.Read a book. When’s the last time you read one? If you can’t remember, then it’s time to pick one up.
And, if you have young ones at home, read a book to them tonight, or have them read one to you.
Better yet…. turn off the Smartphone, laptop or other gadget, and sit down and read together. You can set a timer, but I bet when it goes off, you’ll reset it so you can read more!
2.Buy a book, for yourself, a gift or to donate. Make it a habit to include a book when buying for children.
3.Take a trip to your library. If it’s been since you were in college, then you’d be surprised at what you’ll find there.
4. You can volunteer at a local literacy program such as Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.
As of 2011, America was the only free-market OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) country where the current generation was less educated than the previous one.*
*You can find more facts about literacy at DoSomething.Org.
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Hi Kathy. Your previous life's work had to be a bit depressing with that 60% rate.
Kathy, hard to imagine that 1 in 4 children cannot read in 2015! Enjoy your day!
Thank you for the reminder about the three days. I will celebrate these days.
I read every night before going to see the sandman. No one in my family that I can recall got past the third grade. I was the first to finish high school and go to college. I can only imagine not being able to read as the possibilities are limited if not downright impossible to achieve.
The ability to read is something we take for granted...and should not...how rewarding to conquer the obstacles....and spread the word literally...of the joys and rewards of this ability.
Good morning Kathy,
Never having had a "boob tube" until a late teen ager reading was natural. The kids used to hate me with an hour of "boob tube" an hour of reading; it must have paid off because the oldest does it with the grand kids!
Make yourself a great day.
Hard to believe the number of inmates who are illiterate BARFF.
It is hard to believe those numbers, so sad. Thanks for the eye opening blog today
Good Thursday morning Kathy Streib -
Shocking and sad that only 1 in 4 kids learn how to read. This country is going to hell in more ways than one.
Kathy-Those are shocking statistics for this country. I couldn't imagine not being able to read,
Kathy Streib This is a notable day. I always keep books on my Ipad to read, if even for a few minutes while waiting for clients to appear at showings.
Kathy Streib It really is unimaginable that so many can't read. And I think you are right, their lives would have been different if they could read.
Bill Roberts
Kathy,
Sad stats, and I read books every day. One of our favorite educators got kids to read at the schools where she was a principal by asking them what they were interested. If they said sports. she would buy subscriptions to sport magazines, fashion, she would get Seventeen or other mags...It was her stealth way of getting them hooked and it worked. As a matter of fact, since everyone is alreadin in holiday more, I wrote a review about a book I just read. A
Good morning, Kathy -- while I've previously heard the statistics, they remain a tragic part of our society. It does make me wonder if those in charge of funding education and our penal system understand the relationship.
Important days Kathy, I am sure my wife, Sally Crane , has something planned for these days since literacy is her passion.
Kathy - thanks for highlighting this. Amazing how many Americans are poor readers. No wonder no-one reads documents!
I am so thankful that both of my girls love to read. They go through a 300 page book in a few days. One of their favorite activities is for me to drop them off at a Barnes and Noble so they can just hang out there and read all day.
I have never been a big fan of reading, even though it is very important to do. A friend just gave me a book to read, which I need to make a better effort to actually read it.
I am a bookworm, so I love this post Kathy Streib! I will have to check and see what's going on here in metro Atlanta in honor of International Literacy Day. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kathy,
Great blog!
I love books and the fall season is my favorite. Just curling up close to a fireplace with a blanket, a cup of coffee and a book can work wonders for my soul.
xoxo
Kathy reading is a major part of our lives. It is tough to succeed with out being proficient in reading.
Conrad- it could have been but I was too young and too new at it to realize it. Conrad Allen It did make me sad, though when one older gentleman was just making his way back into the world. He'd killed someone (can't remember who) but he seemed like someone's grandfather.
Wayne- it's disturbing! That's why I have a big smile on my face anytime I see a young person reading a book! Wayne Martin
Gita- I'm trying to get through one book now, so I can start another one. Can't wait. Gita Bantwal
James- that is amazing! Were you encouraged by your teachers or parents to finish high school and go on to college? James Dray
Sally and David- I wish our schools would focus on teaching every child to read. Sally K. & David L. Hanson
Raymond- good for you! It's important that children see their parents reading and that parents take them to the library. Make books a key part of your life! Raymond E. Camp
BARFF- all the more reason to teach our young people how to read. This is trite, but they really are our future. Roger D. Mucci
Scott- thank you. Think how hard it would be if you could not read a contract. This has to become a priority for us. Scott Godzyk
John- who will be our doctors, scientists, teachers? Who will build our houses and roads? Yes, it is disgraceful that we have so many who cannot read. It has to become a priority. John McCormack
Sharon- I know! And, our literacy rate has not changed in 10 years. Sharon Lee
Very nice Kathy Streib ....we all need to read more ....Roy Kelley got me reading more now than ever!
Sandy and Norm- so do I. I have the Kindle app on my phone and iPad and I read a few pages whenever I can... even when I'm drying my hair! Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI
Bill- I cannot help but feel that way. Bill Roberts
Alexandra- I like your educator's idea. With my nieces, I used to tell them it doesn't matter what you read, just read. And yes, getting someone interested in a Sports magazine or anything else or reading romance novels... it's still reading. Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Michael- my opinion is that each has blinders on and can only focus on their particular areas. The penal system is focused on keeping their residents in custody- period. Unfortunately, the hands of our educators are often tied by politics and administrative duties. Michael Jacobs
Bob- good for her!! I think this may have to be more of a community-wide or individual effort. Can't wait for those people in DC. Bob Crane
Olga- many aren't poor readers.. .they just can't! But fortunately, we have tests for those who may have some issues, and teachers can work with them. Olga Simoncelli
Nicole- I love that!!! I've stopped buying "real" books and now get them online, but I do love going into a bookstore. I would love to just go in and sit and read. Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Brian- pick a subject or medium that you enjoy and I'll bet you will read it. For example, I have never read a romance novel.... not a snob about it but just doesn't interest me! Brian England
Lee- check with your library, and love that you love to read. PS haven't forgotten you! Lee Davenport
Wandanna- I'm with you. We don't have "fireplace" days here in FL but when we get those rainy days, reading is what I love to do. Wandanna Melliphant
George- I agree. Thankfully there are excellent programs now for those with reading or learning issues. George Souto
Rob- I'm so glad about that!! I have a list a mile long to read thanks to Roy Kelley Have a great weekend! Rob Thomas
Kathy
I'm all in for Read a Book Day on Saturday September 6th and and Buy a Book Day on Sunday September 7th . . . . I'm also all in on recycling books . . . .
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Evil knows no age boundaries Kathy.
Kathy Streib I still can't believe that current generaton literacy level is less than that of previous.
In fact, we never had Kindle or eReaders whereas current generation do have many more gadgets to read - and I do see them reading at many places.
This is a good week to discover a new favorite author and to read a book or two.
Kathy, just saw this on a reblog and wanted to congratulate and thank you for brining this most important issue to the forefront. Reading has always been one of my passions in life. And here's what I commented on Bob Crane's reblog: "
I'm a huge reader and have been since I could read. One of my earliest memories as a 7 year old is my mother showing me the way to walk to the library by myself, getting me a library card. And each Friday after school I'd go to the library and pick my books for the week. By the time I was 10, my mother had me enrolled in a Children's Book Club. How exciting it was to get my monthly mailing of a book!"
My mother put me on the path of reading and that was one of the smartest things she did in raising me. And as she read voraciously, she was a great role model. Today, I share books with my step-daughter and we mail them back and forth to each other.
OMG, you just reminded me that I have books due today. I'll be heading to the library website to see if I can renew. Thank you, Kathy Streib. And, I am shocked by the 1 in 4 number.
I've never been much of a reader. I'm so glad all of my grandbabies love books. I have lots of books here for them.
Love, love, love to read! So, I think Sunday will have to be dedicated to reading!