Category Archives: Uncategorized

adultLearning

Adult Literacy Crisis in the United States

There is an adult illiteracy crisis in the United States, and this is not a hidden secret. In the state of Florida alone, there are around 2 million people who do not know how to read or write. Many of them have even graduated from high school and have jobs, but they earn far below their literate counterparts. We are going to talk a little bit about this crisis here.

A Social Problem

Most Americans are aware of this serious social issue. Most of America’s illiterate tend to live in poverty or are in jail and are surrounded by tons of economic problems. Even worse, many of these people are unable to get access to vital community services and health care because of the dire living conditions. There is also the fear that these adults living with illiteracy will pass this  misfortune down to the next generation – that is of course, unless we can find a solution.

Searching for a Nationwide Solution

Literacy programs and adult education are part of the solution to this social problem. In Fort Lauderdale alone there are over 5 different adult literacy programs available through the public library. However, it is often an embarrassment for illiterate adults  to seek the help in these programs to find the solutions to their problems. We must also bear in mind the fact that these solutions are unclear, and there are many root causes that play an important part in this problem. This social issue is not new, since society has tried to find a solution for decades. The fact is that there is something that is amiss in our educational system. Many local businesses and government organizations have attempted to end adult illiteracy but it is a battle that must be fought Nationwide and from the ground up. In Florida, where American adult illiteracy is most prevalent, a local ft lauderdale injury attorney has taken matters into his own hands and funded a national awareness campaign to help solve adult illiteracy.

Competitive Issues

There is also another important problem here since the United States cannot compete successfully in the global marketplace without stronger educational resources. The fact is that our educational system is substandard, and this may be the cause our economy to suffer in the long run if we can not find a long term solution.
We cannot deny there is an adult literacy crisis in the United States. This social issue is bringing about lots of problems to our society, since millions of people cannot get access to basic services. They live in poverty or are incarcerated, and this situation is hurting our future.

childlit2

Signs of early literacy difficulties in children

In nearly every case, it is always the parents or caregivers who first suspect learning disabilities in a child. A person who is close to the child more often will easily find out whether the child has a learning problem or not. Parents are advised to monitor their children closely before they set their foot in childcare or kindergarten. It is worth noting that during kindergarten, most of the children will have different rates and styles of learning.

A Parent’s Responsibility

A child who does not easily grasp the idea of numbers, letters and speech like other children may be showing signs of learning disability. The disorders usually onset when the child’s brain cannot process the information in such a way that the child can easily grasp that particular concept. It is very easy for the person who looks after the child to identify signs of learning difficulties. For example, a child who cannot easily manipulate sounds when pronouncing the stated words is confirmation that the child is likely to suffer from early literacy difficulties. The child may have problems with words  that have the same starting sounds or that that rhyme.
Sometimes, a child who might have been affected by an ear condition in the past may be vulnerable to a learning disability. Why? The main reason is that they could have problems grasping what the teacher wants them to read and the instructor might realize a learning disability is a play – rather than simply a hearing problem. Caregivers and parents are advised to pay attention to children who have problems responding – responding late or find it difficult to articulate.

Indications of Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities can also be prevalent if a child can comfortably understand a story but when it comes to answering questions in regard to that passage, he/she cannot relate most of the things. The other similar scenario is where a child cannot vividly deduce what letter it is when a random one is picked by the teacher yet the child can comfortably state all the alphabetical letters. At home, the parents can suspect literacy difficulties if the child may find it hard to button a sweater, play with a toy or assemble lego type structures.
Parents should understand that learning disabilities could either mean that the chid has above or normal intelligence. The only difference with other children is that the child has trouble in expressing what he/she has learned. Some children with difficulty learning may experience low self-esteem, depression and frustration simply because they can’t do what others are doing.

Summary of signs of learning disability in children under the age of 5

· Difficulty learning new words.
· Delayed speech.
· Difficulty learning to read.
· Difficulty following directions.
· Difficulty in learning numbers, alphabet, vowels and days of the week.
Parents and caregivers should understand that every child has special signs that can show reading difficulties hence they should be monitored closely. Visit this website for information about typical preschool development.

lit3

How Parents Can Encourage Literacy In Preschoolers

Encouraging children to read by developing their literacy from a young age is one of the best ways that a parent can help to ensure that their child has a foundation that they can build upon for the rest of their life. When many children enter their first year of school teachers have to start at the very beginning when starting to teach them to read. If you can give your child an advantage by exposing them to reading from a young age then you can help them to excel from the start of their time in the school system. So how exactly can you get your kids interested in literacy from a young age?

The first thing you can do should be obvious, read to them. By reading to your child every day you can show them that the books that they have tell stories that let their imaginations bring them to magical places. Reading to your child every day will encourage them to think and use their young brain instead of simply sitting there doing something like watching television. As you read to your child make sure that you are pointing out the words to them and teaching them what you are doing. Even though they won’t pick up on everything at once, over time the knowledge you are imparting them will accumulate. You will probably be quite surprised when your child starts to ask you questions, and can tell you about the story you are reading.

Even though television is often seen as bad for children’s development, it can be beneficial if you choose the right type of programming. By having your young child watch educational programming you can help transform a bad habit into a good one. There are a lot of programs out there that kids will love that actually teach them the fundamentals of reading and writing. The best part about this approach is that in most cases kids won’t even realize that they are learning. They simply think that they are watching television and having a good time.
Encouraging literacy in your child while they are still in preschool is an important way that you can help your child to develop early and excel. Children learn at a remarkable rate and as a caring parent you should take advantage of this to help give your child the best chance at succeeding in life. By investing a little time now you can help your child to thrive when they get older.