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Study: 11M U.S. Adults Can't Read English
AP via Yahoo! ^ | Thursday, December 15, 2005 | BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer

Posted on 12/15/2005 3:19:04 PM PST by Momaw Nadon

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To: R.W.Ratikal

Mexicans now outnumber blacks who have been replaced as the largest minority.
'
That happened years ago.


61 posted on 12/16/2005 6:37:46 AM PST by moog
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To: MikeinIraq
I was the last phonics year in elementary school. My brother who was 2 years behind me got stuck with that damned whole language crap... I'll agree it was crap. It's why I and no other teacher I know around here don't use it. Phonics is the basis of my reading program, plain and simple.
62 posted on 12/16/2005 6:39:38 AM PST by moog
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To: moog

Will you please tell them they are not to old for picture books? I work in a library and you wouldn't believe the beautiful picture books that are bypassed by parents because their small child is reading chapter books. They don't seem to understand that they can still read to their child even though the child is reading on thier own.


63 posted on 12/16/2005 6:43:45 AM PST by gingerky
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To: gingerky
Will you please tell them they are not to old for picture books? I work in a library and you wouldn't believe the beautiful picture books that are bypassed by parents because their small child is reading chapter books. They don't seem to understand that they can still read to their child even though the child is reading on thier own. That's ABSOLUTELY what I tell them. Parents are always asking if they can read to the child as well. I say OF COURSE!!! It counts in reading minutes too. VERY NICE POINTS!!!!! Thank you for reminding me by the way.

Whenever parents ask if reading scriptures counts too, I say OF COURSE as well too. That's how some of my siblings learned how to read (though it drove me crazy being the oldest, having to listen to the long drawn-out sounding out:). One of my own students went up a grade level just last month and his family reads the Bible daily together. I had another go up 2 grade levels two months ago and another go up two grade levels this month and I know that both of their families also read scriptures together.

Sounds like you're a parent with a head on your shoulders. Kudos to you. And thank you again for the reminder. Merry Christmas by the way.

64 posted on 12/16/2005 6:52:51 AM PST by moog
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To: misharu

I...have taken the evelyn woodhead sped redding corse an it has improved my compren....tion 100 hunnert per.....cent.


65 posted on 12/16/2005 6:53:35 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: moog

I'm glad you do remind them to read to their kids. I think they are so proud of their children being able to read that they forget about reading to them.

As for me, I have two teenage sons; one is an avid reader, and the other hates to read. I am a librarian and I have a son who hates to read. But, I still believe that those who think they hate reading just haven't found what they like, so I keep suggesting things to him.

You sould like a great teacher.


66 posted on 12/16/2005 7:14:39 AM PST by gingerky
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To: moog

yeah unfortunately the idiots that were posing as teachers in Pennsylvania bought into it hook line and sinker...


67 posted on 12/16/2005 7:26:44 AM PST by MikefromOhio
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To: moog

Moog, I'll take your word for it about being a teacher.

However, if you'll re-read your posts to me, you'll have to admit there has been a big lapse in reading and responding in context.

For example I said "I'd also be willing to wager that more than half of them come from grade schools that taught the latest fad in reading". Notice that my post referred to something that happened years ago. Yet you responded as though I was making the assertion that it was still being taught: "Whole language has long ceased being the "latest" fad at least here. Like I said, I haven't seen it around for years year. A more balanced approach--mixing phonics with sight words is the prevailing idea now."

There are numerous other 'corrections' that should be done also before the paper is handed in to be graded. (Grin)

I will stand by my assertion, that most non-readers today came through reading classes that taught Whole Language. The caveat of foreign invaders who can't read is a valid one, and I'm not including them in my wager.

One more point, from what you revealed about the continued use of Whole Language it's easy to see that that non-readers will be around for some time.

Fortunately, my grandkids are home schooled. They are from the group who will lead the country into the next century. I feel sorry for the "Do you want fries with that?" Whole Language group. The Educrats are being terribly unfair to them, meanspirited really.


68 posted on 12/16/2005 7:53:26 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (God has blessed Republicans with enemies who have dementia .)
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To: Balding_Eagle

Your both wrong. Adults can't read because their parents couldn't read, and so on in perpetuity. The average person that you meet on the steet is as dumb as a box of rocks and twice as illiterate. People can say what they want about the decline of the newspaper industry due to liberal bias or whatever, but we all know the simple fact is that adults don't read the newspaper. People don't goto the librar; their parents never took them there. They have never read any classics. They don't have any books in their home. Face it. Reading is a lost art.


69 posted on 12/16/2005 8:55:56 AM PST by Smogger
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To: MikeinIraq

I don't have much sympathy for Penn. teachers to be honest. But then again, we read so much at home, that it wouldn't have mattered what reading program we used, all of us still would have been able to read.


70 posted on 12/16/2005 1:11:22 PM PST by moog
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To: Balding_Eagle
For example I said "I'd also be willing to wager that more than half of them come from grade schools that taught the latest fad in reading". Notice that my post referred to something that happened years ago. Yet you responded as though I was making the assertion that it was still being taught: "Whole language has long ceased being the "latest" fad at least here. Like I said, I haven't seen it around for years year. A more balanced approach--mixing phonics with sight words is the prevailing idea now." There are numerous other 'corrections' that should be done also before the paper is handed in to be graded. (Grin) I will stand by my assertion, that most non-readers today came through reading classes that taught Whole Language. The caveat of foreign invaders who can't read is a valid one, and I'm not including them in my wager. One more point, from what you revealed about the continued use of Whole Language it's easy to see that that non-readers will be around for some time.

I'll admit that I make plenty of mistakes. I don't have the gift of words that some of you "upper" guys do. But like I've said before, I've seen plenty of success stories over the years and am grateful to be witness to so many of them.

BTW, I knew what you were referring to. And I said my post from my own perspective now. I wasn't referring to it being the "latest fad" now. Nope, whole language is NOT being used here, though there are some elements of it such as the memorization of certain sight words that are. That is a valid part of reading. However, STRICT memorization without phonics like whole language entailed is downright dumb.

Thank you for pointing out my mistakes. It was most educational. I agree. I make TONS of them. I am getting better, but still have to learn a lot. I'm glad you perfect guys are out there looking out for me. I need all the constructive criticism I can get--hehe. I can't always just look on he optimistic side of things. I need to see the pessimistic view once in a while.

I have seen an INCREASE in reading ability around here, especially in my own class. I would maybe agree that many non-readers came from whole-language classes. I think it's a valid point too.

As for "those" people--McDonald's workers--I will take any of them who does the job to the best of his ability and with integrity ANY day over someone among the "educated" or Hollywood elite who looks down on others and thinks that "they" know more than they do. Ward Churchhill is a fine example of that as is Michael Mewdummy.

One of the finest individuals that I ever came across was this guy whose job it was to shovel chicken manure below 60,000 chickens at an egg farm. His job got named as one of the ten worst in the whole nation. Yet he went about every day with gusto, working hard. He was a wonderful father, served faithfully in his chuch, and never had less than a kind word for anyone he met.

I am not any better than anyone else. I never will be. In fact, I consider myself far lower than anyone. But I can keep trying to be the best person and teacher that I can and to try to be an influence for good in my own little corner of the world.

I don't judge people by their "sugar coating" so to speak. I have too many of my own faults to worry about what everyone else's is.

Yes, I know that I've gone horribly off-topic here and it has nothing to do with anything. I suppose, I will be further fodder add to the group of mistake-prone teachers out there. I am just glad that many parents of my students are patient with a bumbling idiot like me. Last year, a bunch of them got together and put together a packet about how I had made a difference in the lives of their children. While I didn't agree with that, I was VERY touched that they would put forth such an effort. It will always be among the most precious things I cherish.

I respect anyone in almost any occupation who serves with integrity and does his/her best to do a worthwhile job. That especially includes stay-at-home moms.

Now back to the subject. I appreciate that you have great grandchildren. My own siblings are serving as some of the "future leaders" so to speak already. I can't wait to see what my youngest brother turns out like. He's something special, but we've had good church leaders, Boy Scout leaders, good friends, and good teachers along the way. Most of all we've had WONDERFUL parents and the Savior who has seemed to watch over all of us. I am thandful for the wonderful blessings he has given to me.

I do hope that you thank God EVERY day for having good children and grandchildren. That's what I will do if I ever get that opportunity. Such is the among the greatest privileges one could ever have.

71 posted on 12/16/2005 1:45:00 PM PST by moog
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To: gingerky

I agree with you and thank you for your service.


72 posted on 12/16/2005 1:45:49 PM PST by moog
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