Literacy in America

DECEMBER 2019 | EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today

LITERACY IN AMERICA Karamo The “Queer Eye” culture expert wants kids to love reading and themselves

Chloe Lukasiak shares what reading means to her and offers advice for aspiring authors Why large-print books could help your kid find a passion for reading

The Difference Early Intervention Makes for Kids With Learning Disabilities Emily was once a bubbly and enthusiastic student, but by third grade she had come to hate school and often complained through tears of not wanting to attend at all.

Jamie, her mother, recognized her daughter’s struggles, as she herself was diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade after an evaluation at a local children’s hospital. Jamie was determined that her daughter would not suffer the same way she did.

Even with the increased awareness of dyslexia, stories like the one above are not unusual. Dyslexia is undoubtedly the best-understood learning disability. It is also likely the most common with some research indicating that as many as 80 percent of people with learning disabilities struggle with word-reading skills.

The good news is that we know how to identify risk factors for dyslexia, and we know what instruction and intervention will mitigate its impact and improve educational outcomes.

The Learning Disabilities Association of America advocates for early identification and evidence-based interventions for all individuals with learning disabilities, because all children deserve the best possible educational experience.

Cindy Cipoletti, J.D., Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Association of America; Monica McHale-Small, Ph.D., 1st Vice President and Co-Chair, Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, Learning Disabilities Association of America

Why Reading As a Family Is So Important

Leslie Boggs President, National PTA

Literacy is critical to the success of our children and our nation, and family reading is a great way to get your child hooked on books.

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eading and literacy skills are essential to children’s academic success as well as their ability to move through daily life with ease.

Yet, 25 million children in the United States cannot read proficiently and only 37 percent of high school students graduate at or above reading proficiency.

A literate society is critical for our nation to thrive.

Family engagement is key to reversing our country’s literacy crisis.

Research shows that children who frequently read with their families tend to have a strong belief that

reading is both important and enjoyable. Research also shows that when families read together, children do better in school and beyond.

A culture of literacy Reading with your child creates an opportunity to expose them to more complex words and stories than they would normally encounter on their own, and it gives you an opportunity to ask your child questions about what they are reading to check and aid in their comprehension.

Here are three ways you can start a family reading tradition:

• Establish a reading area in your home • Make it fun! Reading shouldn’t be a chore; it should be an adventure • Read books that interest your child and match their reading level Book ownership is also important to helping inspire children to read. Books always make great gifts!

Spending time reading together every day will have a lasting, profound impact on our children’s and our nation’s success.

Reading together is also a great way to enjoy special moments and make memories. Happy reading! n

Publisher Chloe Addleson Business Developer Victoria Borkowski Managing Director Luciana Olson Lead Designer Tiffany Pryor Designer Celia Hazard Lead Editor Mina Fanous Copy Editor Dustin Brennan Director of Sales Shannon Ruggiero Director of Business Development Jourdan Snyder Director of Product Faye Godfrey Content Strategist Vanessa Rodriguez Cover Photo Courtesy of Karamo All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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The Campaign Aiming to Improve Education By Raising Reading Levels

Lukasiak is only 18 years old but she’s already achieved a lifetime goal of becoming a published author. Now, she’s encouraging aspiring young writers to make reading a top priority.

Lukasiak’s book, “Girl on Pointe: Chloe’s Guide to Taking on the World,” takes readers behind the scenes of her life as a young star, spanning her time on “Dance Moms,” which she first appeared on when she was 9, as well as her transition into life after the show.

Friend or foe?

“Dance Moms” showcased the alliances and rivalries between young dancers’ moms but became most famous for Abby Lee Miller, who owned and operated the elite dance studio where the girls trained and competed.

Miller was known for her harsh criticism and take-itor-leave-it attitude, as well as for pitting her star dancers against one another.

In early seasons of the show, Lukasiak was often portrayed as second-best to Maddie Ziegler, who has gone on to have success as a dancer, actress, and model.

Getting bullied on the show was difficult for Lukasiak, but she says reading offered an escape from the times when life got nasty.

“Reading is everything to me. It’s helped me time

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PAUL SMITH

“Dance Moms” star Chloe Lukasiak says reading helped her escape when times got tough and inspired her to write a book of her own.

How Reading Inspired “Dance Moms” Star Chloe Lukasiak to Write Her Own Book and time again, serving as an escape from tough situations,” she said. “Not to say that you shouldn’t face your problems head-on, as I certainly believe in that.”

A lifelong dream Lukasiak says writing a book of her own was one of her “ultimate goals,” and the fact she was able to accomplish it so early is “beyond my wildest dreams.” That’s not to say she didn’t experience selfdoubt, however.

“I let fear stop me from putting words to paper because I’m afraid it won’t

live up to my expectations,” she said.

For any other would-be writers struggling to find the confidence and inspiration to move forward, Lukasiak says persistence is key.

“The most important thing is to get a draft completed,” she said. “Once you have something written, you can work to make it better, but you cannot improve upon something that does not exist. You must always believe in yourself and chase after your dreams.”n Lynne Daggett

By creating a network of communities aimed at taking on some of early education’s biggest challenges, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is seeing, albeit slowly, positive change in educational outcomes.

Research, experience, and common sense confirm that students who succeed in early grades are more likely to graduate from high school, that first big step on the success sequence away from poverty.

Since reading is rightly seen as the “gateway” skill, there’s good reason for concern over the recent “nation’s report card” on grade-level reading. As with earlier editions, it confirms a double-digit gap in reading proficiency between students from low-income households and their more affluent peers.

This difference also appears in annual reports in virtually every state.

For these children, the prognosis for escaping generational poverty seems especially bleak.

That’s why our communities have joined the nonprofit Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a network of over 300 communities committed to taking on three major challenges: school readiness, chronic absence, and summer learning loss. Over the past five years, we have seen meaningful and measurable progress in over 100 of these communities.

Not there yet However, even in communities where the campaign seems to be working, progress has been slow.

Growth will require a demand for quality teaching in every classroom, every day; productive partnerships between parents, educators, and healthcare professionals; and 24/7/365 systems that can include counseling and nutritional support.

Community mobilization must be harnessed to demand the quality teaching, parent partnerships, and systems reforms that will surround children and families.

Coalitions of local supporters continue to join our campaign, and we invite others to learn about our work and approach. We’re building a big tent because that’s what it takes to win.

Bill Crim, CEO, Promise Partnership/United Way of Salt Lake; Beth Duda, Director, Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading; Mike English, Executive Director, Turn the Page KC MEDIAPLANET • 3

“Queer Eye’s” Karamo On His Love for Reading and the Adventures It Can Bring

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arlier this year, Karamo, 39, released his memoir “Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope.”

In it, he shares his story about growing up in Florida, his family’s Jamaican and Cuban heritage, and his struggles. He writes about how, as a proud gay man, he overcame physical and emotional abuse, and alcohol and drug addiction.

In November, he released “I Am Perfectly Designed,” a children’s book that celebrates the relationship between a father and son. He wrote it with his 22-yearold son Jason.

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF KARAMO

Karamo, the culture expert on Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” has always loved reading.

Now, he’s inspiring adults and kids with two books he’s written.

“For me, it’s about shared attitude and values,” he said.

“A lot of those shared attitudes and values that people take on and hold onto, that builds their self-confidence, is passed on through storytelling.”

Whether that storytelling is verbal or written, he said it’s “so important because it informs what is possible, what we’ve been through, what we’ve overcome, what you can dream about.

“It inspires you to feel like anything in the world that you want, you can achieve.”

The book is named after a mantra Karamo told his kids when they were bullied in their younger years for not having a lot of money. His kids used to tell him they wished they had different lives. “If you remember you’re perfectly designed, you have all the skills and tools you need to get the life you deserve,” Karamo said. “You won’t ever wish for someone else’s life.”

Valuing education Karamo wasn’t always pursuing a career in Hollywood. He graduated college after studying to be a social worker and psychologist, then appeared on “The Real World: Philadelphia.”

Growing up as the child of immigrants, he and his parents were always focused on learning.

“Education was a very big piece of it,” he said. “They came here to make sure their children had a better life. “ His family struggled financially but he says the household was full with “inspiration and love.”

Despite challenges, “We always remembered it was our job to learn more, to do more, and to give back more.”

Storytelling While Karamo is known as “Queer Eye’s” culture expert, he says culture isn’t just the arts.

Adventure Reading has always been important for Karamo, who recalls the many books he had at home as a child. Even when his family didn’t have money for video games or cable TV, he could always count on books for an adventure.

“Picking up a book and learning about a world that I didn’t know made me want to travel,” he said. “Learning about people and different perspectives made me want to meet new people and try new food, try new things.”

Karamo especially loved chooseyour-own-adventure books where he had a say in where the character went or what it was doing.

“It made me feel like I could make those same decisions in my own life and that everything would be OK,” he said.

Karamo encourages children to read at whatever level they’re on and to keep reading as they grow up. He said it’s essential for kids to stay curious and for adults to not stifle their curiosity.

“Encourage them to be curious about books,” Karamo said.

“When they’re curious about books, they’ll get exposed to the world and the things around them they might never have seen, but in a way that’s going to be healthy and foster growth in them.” n Kristen Castillo

Why Early Reading Is Fundamental to Child Development Early literacy is crucial for future success — and making reading fun is vital to early literacy.

SPONSORED

Reading as entertainment “Books and stories have the powerful ability to show kids how to believe in themselves,” says Kevin Donahue, co-founder of Epic!, a subscription-based digital library of children’s books and videos. “Seeing familiar, relatable characters and situations in a book helps kids navigate a complex world by demonstrating creative solutions to problems.”

In order to unlock those benefits, however, children must perceive reading as an

PHOTO: COURTESY OF EPIC!

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iteracy remains the key to lifelong achievement. Research shows that a child’s brain goes through a period of critical brain development between birth and age four. Children who aren’t proficient at reading by the end of fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, and there is a clear connection between poverty in adulthood and literacy levels.

Parents and educators have long recognized the importance of early literacy, but what’s often lost in the push for success is the power of books to help children cope with challenges, as well as a crucial aspect of literacy: fun.

enjoyable activity. “When students see reading as a chore, they can become resistant,” says elementary school teacher Courtney Myers. “As a teacher, this can be a real challenge to reverse. I spend a great deal of time reading new children and young adult books to share with my students,” says Myers.

“My students are so excited to share new books that they found.”

One feature of Epic!’s app is the Read to Me function, which highlights the words on the screen as the app reads aloud.

“Students should be empowered to read books that pique their interests,” says teacher Aaron Decker. “This creates a fun reading atmosphere and gives students the ability to read books that are above their level, improving their reading

skills and their view of themselves as readers.”

Some of the Read to Me titles available on Epic! are especially engaging, with multiple voice actors and sound effects. Seven-year-old Nina described the experience as “reading a movie.”

Real benefits Helping kids discover that reading is fun sets them firmly on the road to future success, but books can also help children contextualize their world and deal with their specific challenges — like struggling with reading in the first place.

Kelly Thompson is giving her kids an early start in literacy.

“My kiddos got to the point of asking to read books on their own and asking for library visits during the week,” she says.

“My daughter has struggled

with reading the wrong letters at times and having difficulty spelling. Reading so often has helped her to be more fluent and confident in so many ways.”

Reading can also help children deal with heavier problems, notes Mr. Decker. “I had two students that viewed themselves as being different and misunderstood because they were autistic,” he says. “The book ‘My Special Needs Family’ helped them realize that the differences in people are to be understood and celebrated, not pushed away or embarrassed by.”

When a radio station did a feature on one of Epic!’s books, the Fields Family was moved to write in with their inspiring story. “My nine-year-old has childhood absence epilepsy (a non-convulsive seizure disorder). This left us to play catch up with his peers; reading has been an especially discouraging barrier for him. I downloaded the Epic! app and he loves it so much he won’t put it down!”

It’s never too soon (or too late) to encourage your child to read and to help them fall in love with books, says Mr. Donahue.

“All children love to learn,” he says. “Giving kids control, particularly of what they read and how they read it, allows them to freely explore their interests and passions, which leads to an innate curiosity and love of learning.” n Jeff Somers MEDIAPLANET • 5

Tech Help Is Just a Click Away at Your Local Library Learning the ins and outs of the latest gadget you pull from under the tree this year may seem like a cumbersome chore, but fret not — your local library has you covered.

This holiday season, e-readers, tablets, smartphones, and other tech devices will fall into the hands of consumers of all ages.

For many, using these devices will come naturally and require little assistance, but not everyone is a digital native. Some may freeze up with bewilderment or genuine fear at handling a gift that is on the wishlists of consumers with an eye on the latest technological trends.

No need to fear. Libraries of all types and their tech-savvy librarians and library workers can assist students, parents, and all members of the family with understanding new technologies and how to navigate the digital world around us.

Public libraries offer 1:1 assistance from staff guiding patrons through the intricacies of computers, smartphones, 3D printers, iPads, e-readers, and other devices. This includes training in software, internet services, social media, and apps.

Libraries also offer tech assistance remotely for all ages. A library card provides access to library web resources like software tutorials, eBooks, and audio books on coding and tech support, apps, social media, and privacy tips, and a host of other resources to support tech adoption.

Even the “experts” need help Tech “experts” like youth and young adults may struggle with the volume of data at their fingertips. Studies from the PEW Research Center show that although students are viewed as tech savvy, many lack the critical thinking skills needed to safely navigate the internet, social media, and apps. Millions of K-12 students rely on certified school librarians to teach them how to become good digital citizens, and avoid cyber fraud and victimization.

As family members unwrap tech gifts this holiday season, rest assured that your public and school librarians are ready to assist those in need with mastering new technologies, and navigating the digital jungle that surrounds us. Help is just a click away.

The American Library Association 6 • EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

Amidst a Reading Crisis, Large Print Helped My Student Succeed Our nation is in a reading crisis. Could large print books be the answer for which U.S. parents and students are searching?

new report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that the average eighth-grade reading score has declined in more than half of U.S. states — proof of our nation’s current reading crisis.

Even if students are reading at grade level, it can still be difficult. For students who struggle with reading, comprehending content becomes increasingly difficult, and the desire to read in school or at home vanishes.

My daughter, Danielle, struggled with reading

from an early age. I worked with her teachers to implement any and every new strategy with little success.

In fourth grade, we discovered that she has two learning disabilities, both processing and memory, and an ADD diagnosis.

Danielle’s teachers and I discussed supplemental resources that could help support her reading efforts in the classroom and at home. It’s at that moment that large print books became an option.

Danielle started using large print in class and at home we’d read various large print titles together.

Whether she was reading out loud or listening along, Danielle could easily follow across the lines without losing her place.

Today, Danielle is thriving in college and I believe large print helped make that happen.

A major change A study from Project Tomorrow and Thorndike Press solidifies two main benefits of large print text — it improves student reading skills and changes students’ mindsets. Large print changes how a child feels about themselves, from “I can’t read,” “I don’t know how to read,” or “I don’t want to read that,” to “I can do this,” “I can read,” and, most importantly, “I want to read.”

That’s a big change. Gaining confidence in reading seeps into every other aspect of a student’s life, including academic achievement. I urge every teacher and parent to explore large print text as a reading supplement — it could change a child’s life.

Try large print books today: amazon.com/youthlargeprint. n Sabine McAlpine, Strategic Account Director, Thorndike Press MEDIAPLANET

IS READING A CHALLENGE FOR YOUR CHILD? Thorndike Press Large Print

Standard Print

Books are shown at 40% of actual size.

LARGE PRINT CAN HELP. 3 in 4 teachers observed that students reading below grade level experienced better comprehension and retention with large print books.1 Give your child the option to try large print. It’s a small change that can make a big difference.

1 Based on a report from a 2018–2019 nationwide study to determine the efficacy of large print books on student reading skills and mindsets conducted independently by Project Tomorrow® at the request of Thorndike Press, from Gale, a Cengage Company.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK amazon.com/youthlargeprint