Episode 71 is an opportunity to focus on an issue of great importance to me - literacy! "Learning to Read" occurs during the early years of a child's education – typically kindergarten through 3rd grade – and consists primarily of decoding and memorizing basic words. The focus is phonemic awareness and phonics. Children learn letters make sounds, and how to mesh those sounds together so d-o-g becomes "dog". They continue progressing through this stage until they achieve "fluency", at which point they're ready to tackle increasingly difficult texts and begin "Reading to Learn." Unfortunately, in Palm Beach County, less than 60 percent are reading at grade level as they enter 4th grade! Ted Hoskinson has been working to increase literacy in our students, focusing on Title 1 schools in Palm Beach County with his "homegrown" nonprofit agency, "Roots & Wings." His mission is simple - prepare our children for their future place in our world economy. As always, I hope you will enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed our conversation.
