September is one of my favorite months. The brisk air, colorful leaves, and fresh starts always lift my spirit. Recently, I discovered another reason why September is special…It’s National Literacy Month! That sounds great, but what exactly does that mean. I delved a little deeper and discovered that in 2024, “Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator Jack Reed introduced the Read to Rise Resolution. The goal was to build awareness of the literacy crisis and encourage children to learn to read through proven, evidence-based strategies.”(National Parents Union, Educators for Excellence and EdTrust-9/19/24)

As I read through the entire statement, I learned that in 2024, “more than 48 million adults in the U.S. have reading proficiency at the third-grade level.” Wow! What a discouraging statement. Illiteracy affects everyone, blocking opportunity and keeping people at a poverty level. Although I am now a retired educator, I am well aware of programs like “Structured Literacy” being implemented in schools throughout the country to address this problem.

My personal belief is that all of us have a responsibility to foster literacy in our young. We can’t all volunteer to tutor or donate money, but we can perpetuate an literacy in our homes and communities in simple ways. Want to help? Here are a few suggestions that cost little but can offer big literacy reward.

BE A MODEL READER: Children are keen observers. Put down your phone or tablet and let them see you reading a book or even a magazine, discussing it with others and quickly finding a new one when you finish.

READ ALOUD: If you read this blog regularly, you know that I am a huge fan of reading aloud to kids (of any age!). If you are lucky enough to have some little people in your house, it’s never too soon to start. If you youngsters read independently, you can still find interesting material to read aloud and discuss. Perhaps you can read the same book and enjoy one another’s insights. Extensive research has proved the major benefits of reading aloud in the home.

DONATE BOOKS: Little Free Libraries have popped up in many communities. Seek these out in your area as a resource to borrow or donate books. Most libraries accept used books in good condition and often sell them for a minimal price. This is a win/win for everyone.

GIFT BOOKS: How often do you struggle to find a gift for a child in your life? An easy and excellent solution is to order a beautiful book online or even better, take a trip to a book store and enjoy first-hand the creative array of texts for kids of any age.

Imagine all of us working together to foster literacy in our communities. With little time or money, we can be part of this movement. Let’s celebrate National Literacy this month make a conscious decision to participate in a meaningful way.