A s an education consultant, I from parents with a similar request: “My child is struggling with reading. Please help.” Each plea tugged at my heartstrings. In addition to these clients, my phone buzzed with close friends whom I’d assumed had their children’s literacy skills–reading, writing, speaking, and listening–under control. But their children, like so many others across the country, are experiencing the long-term impacts of COVID-19 that go found myself overwhelmed this summer with email after email beyond physical and mental health. Our nationwide literacy problem is nothing new. For nearly 20 years, student literacy has been an urgent discussion in the education community. The widening learning gaps have been attributed to excessive absences among teachers and students and the emotional trauma brought on by the stress and anxiety of going to school during the pandemic. Multi-state licensed therapist and clinical social worker Alexis Young says that while schools sought to use technology to bridge the educational gap during the pandemic, there has been a drastic increase in anxiety and inability to focus because of overexposure to online programming and social media. When I first meet with new clients, I always remind them: “You are the first teacher your child ever had. Let’s talk about how you can teach literacy at home.” While many parents are open to working with their children, they are unsure how to begin. They also wonder how to fit teaching literacy into their already busy schedules. As a single mother, I can relate. I spent several years figuring out how to navigate my role as a parent, high school teacher, and business owner. To my delight, my young son played a vital role in helping me develop a plan that strengthened our family and jump-started his literacy. One of the greatest misconceptions is that literacy has to look a certain way–specific terminology, well-structured lessons, and rigid thinking processes. Literacy should and can fit into our normal lifestyle with ease. Here are a few ways to integrate literacy into your daily family life. First, know your child’s reading level– often available through standardized and other reading tests given at school–so you can provide the best literacy support possible. If your child’s school does not provide such information, community- based literacy centers may be able to provide assessments. Start a Family Book Club When people think of book clubs, Oprah Winfrey’s famous book picks or a group of
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Beyond ABCs at Home
Making Literacy Part of Your Family’s Lifestyle By Jamie Mayes
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16 August 2024 | cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
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