Whenever I hear someone say something I consider worth repeating, I repeat it. Mostly, I try to credit the source but I no longer have a DVR. So, by the time I realize I should repeat it, I no longer know who to credit. I will say this. I heard it on a news article on 10 pm news, local channel 13, the FOX affiliate. The article was concerning teaching to read, a subject that very much concerns me. Near the end of the article, there was a man that said that third grade is kind of a division point. Before the third grade, the students are learning to read. After the third grade, the students more and more are reading to learn.

How accurate I thought. I knew it a long time ago but I just never thought of a way to put it as he did. Nonetheless, it points out how important reading is. Without being able to read, it is as if they have a handicap, an anchor so to speak keeping them from learning. And of course, the longer the problem continues, the more the student falls behind others, or more important, where he or she should be.

This is usually where students who have problems start becoming frustrated. If the problem is not resolved, the student will frequently throw up his hands wondering why he or she should even try. What purpose is there in giving reading assignments to 5th and 6th graders that can’t read at 3rd grade levels?

It is why it is good that Tennessee put such a priority on students learning to read. It is important, for sure to allow the kids to learn. Far more important, it is important that schools, students and parents know; so that the problem can be directly addressed. Is it that the student is just not interested or does he have a problem that he needs help with? Is it just encouragement he needs or does he need to have special instruction.

It is unfortunate, but in some cases, it is the teacher. That certainly needs to be addressed quickly because if it isn’t it will effect many more students and quickly.

allow me to add this. Saw the same article again. The man was Johnny Blount, Literacy Corps Director.