Lancaster Learns

The Facts about Adult Illiteracy

2010-10-25T16:42:00.003-04:00

It is estimated that 42 million American adults are functionally illiterate. Between 45 and 50 million adults can't read above a fifth grade level.

These are just a few of the scary facts about adult illiteracy. Clearly, this is a big issue that needs to be addressed in our nation.

It also needs to be addressed in Lancaster County. In 2008, 21.5% of students in Lancaster County had dropped out of school. What are we going to do about it? What do you think we should do to fight these statistics?

Literacy "gaps"

2010-08-10T13:41:00.004-04:00

The definition of "functional" literacy has typically been tied to grade-level equivalents. During World War II, for example, the average worker was expected to perform at least at a fourth grade level. By the mid-1960s, the standard for "functional" literacy had risen to an eighth grade level. Today, most new jobs already require twelve years of education, and the 21st century will present even higher demands.

People who were once considered literate by a previous yardstick may today suddenly find themselves considered to be lacking in literacy skills. There now exist literacy "gaps." Compounding the problem is that few citizens think they need help until they lose their jobs, their children fail in school, or some other tragedy strikes them.

The problem facing most Americans is not primarily an "illiteracy" problem but a "literacy" gap--a shortage of skills among very large numbers of adults who are expected to provide the incomes to support society, learn to live more healthy lives, raise the next generation of productive citizens, and participate in cultural and democratic life.

Literacy is...everybody's business, and lifelong learning needs to become a way of life.

Politics and Literacy

2010-08-03T14:34:00.002-04:00

As you know, our business is literacy. We believe that it's an important and essential part of living a successful life. One of the biggest shifts happening in literacy right now is 21st century literacy, which includes things like digital literacy and the 4 C's: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Here's what our President had to say about 21st century literacy:

"I'm calling on our nation's governors and state education chiefs to develop standards and assessments that don't simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test, but whether they possess 21st century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking and entrepreneurship and creativity."

-President Barack Obama, in an address to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 3/10/09

Beach Bash and Boogie

2010-07-20T13:55:00.003-04:00

Lancaster County First Steps will be hosting "Beach Bash and Boogie" on Saturday, August 28 from 7:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the Artisans Center in downtown Lancaster. Tickets for the event are $40 per person and $75 per couple. The event will feature live entertainment by Tetrox, and heavy hors d'oeuvres and libations will be provided. Call (803) 286-8000 for tickets. All proceeds go to benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, which provides books for children in Lancaster County. Support this good cause!

Sound Off!

2010-07-15T15:57:00.003-04:00

What are your thoughts on digital literacy? How do you think we can help adults and students alike develop the skills needed in so many of the jobs available today?

What other things do you want to share with us about the July newsletter? We want to hear from you!

What is Literacy?

2010-07-15T13:45:00.003-04:00

Literacy is definitely a big issue in today's society. But what does it really mean? Here's a quote from the UNESCO Institute for Education in Hamburg, Germany:

"Literacy arouses hopes, not only in society as a whole but also in the individual who is striving for fulfillment, happiness, and personal benefit by learning how to read and write. Literacy...means far more than learning how to read and write...[t]he aim is to transmit...knowledge and promote social participation."

What do you think? What does literacy mean to you? Click on the "comment" box below and share your thoughts!

Literacy and Education

2010-07-01T14:14:00.002-04:00

"No skill is more crucial to the future of a child, or to a democratic and prosperous society, than literacy." - Los Angeles Times, "A Child Literacy Initiative for the Greater Los Angeles Area"

What do you think? Do you agree?

Taking Cues from Charleston

2010-06-24T15:50:00.002-04:00

After an article published last year in Charleston's Post and Courier revealed that nearly one in five students entering ninth grade could not read above a fourth grade level, the Charleston School District decided to take action. Making literacy a top priority, they implemented various programs and ideas in an attempt to address this important issue.
Different kinds of programs popped up across the district. Partnerships were created with the College of Charleston and the Citadel, with graduates and undergraduates received credit for assisting in low-income schools, providing extra teaching for students who needed help in reading. A sixth-grade academy was also opened for students who were below reading level. Students in the academy spent extra time at school, had 2 mandatory tutoring sessions a week, and took both a reading intervention and a math intervention class. Literacy specialists were hired at some high schools, and a literacy plan was approved for this coming school year.
The changes seem to be working. A recent article in the Post and Courier stated that the district has seen a drop in the number of students who are at or below a fourth grade reading level, with the numbers being one in seven now instead of one in five. The district plans to continue to track this progress to ensure that the new literacy tactics are working.
What do you think? Could we implement some of the same programs and plans into Lancaster County schools? If so, what? Or do you have another idea that you think could help? What can we do to improve literacy in the Lancaster area?

Fighting Illiteracy 2

2010-06-14T15:17:00.003-04:00

We've been talking about fighting illiteracy in the Lancaster community. We want to thank all of you who have responded to our last post. We appreciate your ideas, and we're excited to get this conversation going. If you haven't responded, we urge you to share your ideas with us by clicking on the "comment" box below. You can make your responses anonymous, so please let us know what you're thinking!

One of the suggestions that keeps popping up is a need for groups in the area to partner up and work together to fight illiteracy. While some people think we've done a good job identifying who needs services, it's putting those services into action effectively that seems to be a bit of a stumbling block. Some of you have suggested that things would be smoother if groups worked with one another on literacy initiatives.

So how do we go about getting these groups to work together? What are the benefits of them working with one another, and how do we let them know that their partnerships could be beneficial to the community? What else can we do to make this a more literate area? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

How Should We Fight Illiteracy?

2010-05-25T15:56:00.002-04:00

Literacy is an important issue in South Carolina, as well as in Lancaster County. The recently released Kids Count Report shows that South Carolina is in the bottom ten nationally when it comes to the status, or well-being, of our children. The report looks at the social, economic, educational, and physical situation of children in each state to determine its facts and statistics, which includes the ranking of the states (go to www.aecf.org for more information). In the South Carolina Kids Count Report, there were some surprising statistics regarding our current situation. From 1992 to 2007, 4th graders in South Carolina who scored basic or better on standardized tests in reading only increased from 53% to 59%, and those in 8th grade from 66% to 69% (the numbers in math were 48% to 80% in 4th grade and 48% to 71% in 8th grade).

The South Carolina Kids Count made other startling discoveries about the conditions in South Carolina as well:

"The data on families, economic status, health, readiness, school achievement, and adolescent risk behaviors provide a troublesome picture of the condition of children in South Carolina. The 31.3% of children in single-parent families, 18.8% in poverty, 34.4% not graduating from school, 37.1% of high school students using alcohol and 20.1% using drugs each month, and other data profiled in this report suggest that too many children are at risk of not growing up to become self-supporting adults, good family members, and responsible community citizens." (www.sckidscount.org)

As stated above, many factors affect the education of a child. Economic status, home environment, personal health, stability of the family, and various other elements can play a role in a child's school success. Without strong support, structure, and stability at home, it can be difficult for a child to perform well. In 2000, 16.9% of families in Lancaster and 18.8% of families in South Carolina had children ages 0 to 18 and were below the poverty level. In 2009, 83% of children from low-income families did not score "proficient" on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test, and 49% of low-income students performed "below basic" on the test.

It's also likely that many of the children who struggle in school are not the first in their families to have such difficulties. There seems to be a cycle to illiteracy: children who suffer in school are often just one of several generations in their families who have faced these issues. 20.8% of children in South Carolina are consistently not ready for 1st grade, and the percentage in Lancaster is only slightly better, with 18.8% of students testing not ready. Additionally, 25.8% of all babies born in Lancaster county in 2007 were born to mothers who had not completed the 12th grade.

So what can we do? How can we help children succeed if their parents are unable to provide them with the skills necessary to succeed? We must break the cycle of illiteracy. We have to attack the problem at both ends, meaning helping the children and the parents, if we are going to break the cycle. We must make changes both in the lives of the children and the adults in our community who are illiterate if we want to be successful in making the Lancaster area a literate community.

What do you think? Do these statistics surprise you? What changes can be made in this area to help break the cycle? How are we going to attack this problem and make a difference? Please share your thoughts and ideas with us, on this blog and otherwise, and help us find ways to address this need in our community.

The 5K was a success!

2010-05-10T15:51:00.010-04:00

The LALC 5K Race for Literacy was a success, and we couldn't be happier! We owe a big thank you to all of our participants and volunteers for helping make this happen. We couldn't have done it without you!

Now, we want your feedback. We want to know what you liked about the race, what you thought could be improved, your overall experience, and anything else you want to share with us. We also want your thoughts on us hosting another race in the fall. Would you participate? Remember, all feedback is anonymous, so please share your thoughts and opinions with us! We need your help to make the next race even more successful!

Thank you again for your help and support and for raising awareness about health literacy!

The 5K Race for Literacy is this Saturday!

2010-05-06T13:41:00.001-04:00

We're so excited that the 5K Race for Literacy is this Saturday, May 8! We've been busy at the cooperative filling goody-bags and ordering t-shirts, trying to get ready for the big event. The race begins at 8:00 Saturday morning at USC-Lancaster's Gregory Health and Wellness Center. Runners and walkers can sign up anytime before 7:30 on the day of the race.

The Big Book Giveaway will also be taking place on Saturday. Head out to the Red Rose Festival in downtown Lancaster. While you're there, stop by our office at 105 West Dunlap Street and receive a free book of your choice! The Giveaway will be from 10:00 t0 6:00.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the race and the festival this weekend!

Calling for Volunteers

2010-04-27T10:10:00.002-04:00

The LALC 5K Race for Literacy is fast approaching, and the applicants are pouring in! Now, we're looking for volunteers to help us with the race as well as the Big Book Giveaway. Come join us on Saturday, May 8th, and help us promote health and literacy in the Lancaster Area. If you would like to volunteer, call the Cooperative at 803-285-8805 or e-mail us at danelle@lancasterlearns.org.

We're on Facebook!

2010-04-01T14:56:00.002-04:00

LALC is now on Facebook! Check out our page to find out more about our organization and read updates on our events. If you've got a Facebook account, we'd love for you to become a fan of our page! It's another great way to stay up to date on our latest projects.

Literacy Hotline

2010-03-31T09:41:00.003-04:00

There is now an area Literacy Hotline. The numbers are 803-286-7323 (read) and a toll free number for those in the Chester, Kershaw and York. 1-877-775-7323 (read).

This line will be used to direct callers to local literacy services that best fit the callers needs.

Please let us know what your group has to offer these callers. We would love to refer them to your agency!

Big Book Giveaway

2010-03-30T14:33:00.003-04:00

Saturday, May 8 will be a busy day for the cooperative. In addition to the 5K Race for Literacy, we're having a Big Book Giveaway. During the city of Lancaster's Red Rose Festival, festival goers will be given an LALC bookmark. These bookmarks are good for one free book of your choice. Stop by the Second Glance, Second Chance bookshop from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on May 8 and pick up your book!

Over the last six months, the Lancaster community has donated over 5000 books to the bookstore. We're excited about being able to give something back to the community. Our books cover everything from history to romance to mystery and more. We're hoping to give away a lot of books, so be sure to head over for your free gift!

LALC 5K Race for Literacy

2010-03-16T14:45:00.006-04:00

The LALC 5K Race for Literacy will be May 8th, 2010. All proceeds will go to Lancaster Area Literacy Cooperative to promote literacy in the Lancaster area.

To register by mail call 803-285-8805 and we'll send you the registration form. or go to our website to view the race route. Join us on May 8th. www.lancasterlearns.org

Lancaster Learns

2010-03-16T14:24:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Lancaster Learns. We are the Lancaster Area Literacy Cooperative. We are looking for new and exciting ways to promote literacy in the Lancaster SC area. We urge you to post your ideas and opinions on this blog. Our success depends on your support.