JASMINE SILASUNST 140: AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

The Ins and Outs of American Literacy

WHAT IS LITERACY?

“commonly defined (in the U.S.) as the ability to read, write, and speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals, and develop one’s knowledge and potential” –The National Literacy Act

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Lacking literacy among Americans (esp. members of the African American race)

Learning/Being taught in time

LACKING LITERACY

Illiteracy is increasing at a great rate among today’s Americans

African Americans are the most illiterate of the American races

“In 2003, as many as 5% of adults over the age of 16 were non-literate in English, 14% were below basic in literacy, and another 29% possessed only basic literacy skills”

In “2006 more than 8 million U.S. students in grades 4-12 struggle to read, write and comprehend adequately” –Educational Cyberplayground

IMPACT OF ILLITERACY

Frustration b/c lacking ability to communicate

Drop out of schoolPrison sentencesInability to find & keep employmentLower incomeDeclining HealthIncreasing mortality ratesIlliteracy Cycle (generation-to-generation)

LITERACY LEARNING LIMITS

Limited time to provide children with adequate literacy skills for life

“A child who is not reading by the end of first grade has a one in eight chance of ever becoming a proficient reader.”–Johns Hopkins Univ. Center for Social Organization of Schools

“IF YOU HAVE FAILED TO GIVE CHILDREN

CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN LEARN TO READ BY THE TIME THEY ARE 8 OR 9 YEARS

OLD YOU WILL HAVE LOST THEM FOR LIFE. THEY CANNOT RECOVER.”

-Educational Cyberplayground

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY

ALL children are eager to learnChildren cannot teach themselvesProviding children with confidence and

literacy skills at early ages puts them on the right path towards success in life

CAUSES OF ILLITERACY

Poverty/living and attending school in urban areas

Parental involvementTeaching methodsslavery

LESS FORTUNATE LITERACY

Impoverished children lack opportunities to build their literacy skills in the same ways as those who are more fortunate

Children attending urban schools lack materials necessary for them to learn

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Teachers cannot do all of the work, parents have to become the teachers when school is not is session

“Paternal literacy & participation is fundamental to a child’s success in learning to read.” –Bridgewater State College

“A parent’s literacy level is one of the most significant predictors of a child’s future literacy ability. Poor school achievement and dropping out before completing school are a commomplace among children of illiterate parents.” –REACH Educational Foundation, 2003

TEACHING METHODS

Because of young age, children MUST be taught in ways that will entertain them and keep their attention

Have changed causing this growing rate of illiteracy

Old approach to teaching, “look and say” method, intensive-systematic phonics

SLAVERY

Illegal to teach a slave to read and write for fear of an uprising and to maintain hierarchy of races

Other races had a head start on literacy, now we have to play catch-up

SOLUTIONS

No Child Left BehindParental Literacy and Academic InvolvementHands-on Learning ActivitiesAdopting the Old approach to teaching

reading

ETHICS: helps…does not harmFEASIBILITY: project is practical and solution

does indeed fit problemKNOWLEDGE & ORGANIZATION: yes!EFFECTIVENESS: Adjusted to circumstances

to complete activismBENEFITS: children benefitted, parents

benefitted, teachers benefitted, & I benefitted from this activism

SOURCES

http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/literacy/stats.asphttp://www.literacysanantonio.com/index.php/

literacyfactshttp://www.sesameworkshop.org/inside/

pressroom/tec/literacyhttp://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/boynton/library/

bhmread.htmlhttp://www.dclearns.org/clearinghouse/

stats.htmlhttp://www.nrrf.org/essay_Illiteracy.html