This week I'm coming back to the TT with a vengance. And as a writer and a reader, this is something that is near and dear to my heart. My topic? 13 Reasons Why You Should Read or 13 Reasons Why You Should Join eHQ's 100,000 Book Challenge.
- More than 20% of adults read at or below a fifth grade level- far below the level needed to earn a living wage. The National Adult Literacy Survey found that over 40 million Americans age 16 and older have significant literacy needs.
- As the education level of adults improves, so does their children’s success in school. Helping low-literate adults improve their basic skills has a direct and measurable impact on both the education and quality of life of their children.
- Four year old children who were read one alphabet book per day significantly improved in their awareness of phonemes - tiny letter sounds that make up words.
- In 1998 there were ten million children between seven and eleven years of age who performed below the most basic level of reading achievement.
-
Parental literacy is one of the single most important indicators of a child's success. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) has concluded that youngsters whose parents are functionally illiterate are twice as likely to be functionally illiterate themselves.
-
Some 30 million adults in the United States have extremely limited literacy skills. If one teacher could teach 100 adults to read, we would need 300,000 adult education teachers to meet this need.
-
This year every book we read, and post to eHarlequin.com's Book Challenge they'll donate a book to the National Center for Family Literacy to benefit their literacy programs.
-
The stated mission of the NCFL is to create a literate nation by leveraging the power of the family.
-
Since its inception in 1989, more than one million families throughout the country have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL’s work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers.
-
eHarlequin.com has almost reached it's goal of 10,000 books by the end of April, but they still need YOUR help.
-
eHarlequin.com is currently gathering books to send to the NCFL at the begining of May and will be posting pictures on their website.
-
You can post simple reviews of non-Harlequin/Silhouette Books, however, we'd like to think that you're also reading our books. ;)
-
It's very simple to join. All the information you need is right HERE.
RE: THURSDAY THIRTEEN by Harlequin Rae
What a much needed and timely blog! Literacy is very important to me, and reading is something real close to me heart. I will forever bless me parents for instilling in their children the drive and desire to read -- and that their children were able to pass that desire on to their own offspring. To me, reading is something "elementary" that, as a child, I believed all families did. At one time we were too poor to own a television, so we all read instead. Later on, in America, our church movement did not watch or own television, so instead, we were encouraged to read. While I was in High School, the "young people" at my local church (which was quite large), on average, were two years (grades) ahead of the other children at shool that watched television as opposed to read (that average still stands today).
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
About the 100,000 book challenge...
I'm not sure this is the best place to ask about it, but since you mention the 100,000 book challenge, I can't help but ask.
It's probably just a goal that the books *total*10,000 for April instead of 10,000 *just* for April? The "Community book counter" is at 9609 as I write this, so since I found out the goal for the book challenge for last year was originally 10,000 (but was surpassed by 100,000, if I recall correctly!
), at 100,000 books divided by 12 (months), that's about 9,000 books a month.
So how did it happen that there were 100,000 reviews last year? Last-minute flood?
Awesome blog post, Rae! We
Awesome blog post, Rae! We all need a reminder about reading skills, or lack thereof. I read to both my kids - they are 5 and 11. The 11-year-old likes it because I read him stories that are a bit above his reading level. He asks questions ("What does that word mean?") and I love it! I love to read and I've even read aloud to my dearly departed doggie when she was alive. My two current doggies don't seem to care when I read aloud, but dearest Bailey (up in Heaven) loved it and snuggled up to me. Ok, I've gotten off topic entirely! Don't mind me....
~Kristen
"You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a mother who read to me."
--Strickland Gillilan
Hi guys!
So sorry I didn't get in here sooner. I had technical issues with my ISP. FINALLY after the last two hour conversation with "David" the new modem is installed and I can get onto the internet on my laptop. I'm typing this during commercials--addicted to Grey's Anatomy.
HockeyJock,
It sounds like you came from a great foundation, even though you weren't handed all of the luxury items or even electronic things that our children have today. My children aren't allowed to play their games all the time. They have allotted hours to play their games and then every night, they go to bed, they read for a half hour and then it's lights out. Reading is very important to me and it was very important to me as a child and even now. Reading is my escape from the everyday mundane. I can be anyone through the characters and I can live in any country or world for that matter. Thanks for commenting, I love learning more about people!
Takiko,
Good question and one I'm going to have to get back to you on as Lorie coordinates the book challenge. I promise to get you an answer asap.
Kristen, I have three kids and there are books that I can read by heart--lol. But yes, it is so gratifying when a child asks about a word because it shows that by reading to them we as parents ARE teaching them something. And awe, about Bailey snuggling up to you.
Rae
The 100,000 Book challenge
Takiko,
I'm not sure I understand your question, but let me correct a few inaccuracies in your post by giving you some history of the challenge.
I started the challenge 2 years ago when I wondered aloud (eg on the boards) how many of our members could read 100 books per calendar year. It turns out that over 50 could and did. So last year I upped the ante and asked folks to see if collectively we could read 10,000 books in 2007. We hit an amazing 24,400+ books for the year, not quite the 100,00 you mention
. It's this year (2008) that I've challenged readers to read that magic number of 100,000 books and we have partnered with the National Center for Family Literacy. We will donate an equivelent number of books read to their literacy programs.
The book counter that you see is cumulative and indicates the total number of books read and reviewed on our site since January 2008. As you can see we have a ways to go, but I'm confident that as word of the challenge and our goal to read 100,000 books this year spreads that we will meet it.
Does that answer your question?
Jayne
Community Manager
"We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh"—Agnes Repplier