About Literacy - Meet my Students
From Me to You -- A Note About Adult Literacy
I’ve been in love with books forever and couldn’t imagine a world in which the pleasure of reading was beyond my scope. When reading brings pleasure, our lives are richer, and nothing is impossible. Unfortunately, not all adults experience this joy or realize what they’re missing.
FACTS: In the United States today, over 40 million people aged 16 and over (20%+) read at or below the fifth grade level. To these folks, reading is a chore that brings little reward—certainly no pleasure, and sadly, not even a living wage. Workers who lack a high school diploma earn less than 25% of those with a college degree. ($452 vs. $1829 per month). (#--See note below).
I believe that it’s never too late to learn how to read or how to read well! My adult students agree. My students are men and women who’ve returned to school in order to earn their GED diplomas, a key that can open doors for them in the job market--and worlds for them between the covers of a book. As one of my students told me:
“Reading is like playing dress-up without having to change your clothes. With every new book you open, you become a different person.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself! But I tried in the following articles that were published by literacy organizations. Please take a moment to read and share your thoughts—perhaps your own reading experiences.
You might also be interested in knowing that Romance Writers of America sponsors a huge book
signing -- Literacy for Life -- each year at the national conference. More than 400 authors take part, and the proceeds go to both the local conference city and to literacy organizations across the nation. I’m very proud to be a member of this dedicated organization.
# Note: Statistics provided by the National Institute for Literacy
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