HEY. IF YOU’RE SEEING THIS, DONATE (at least) $10 to #BooksfortheBlock. Click Here.
lit·er·a·cy/ˈlidərəsē,ˈlitrəsē/
noun
the ability to read and write.
“tests of literacy and numeracy”
competence or knowledge in a specified area.
Books for the Block is exactly what it sounds like. Help me flood “the block” with quality literature for our neighborhoods. I truly believe that reading makes the world go ’round! With the pandemic, so many public libraries are closed or have limited access- and it’s not fair to underserved communities. I ask for book donations to close that gap. Children who read books have a tendency to be more creative and productive. And clearly America needs more of that. So help me help the world and donate today!
Currently, 45 million Americans are functionally illiterate and cannot read above a fifth-grade level. 50% of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth-grade level. 85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading. 3 out of 5 people in American prisons can’t read.
There’s no question that literacy is an essential element to a child’s development and opens the door to a brighter future. Just how important literacy becomes has been a question many educators and researchers have sought to answer. Foundations such as The Literacy Project seek to improve reading skill levels among struggling readers and target the growing illiteracy among school-age children. Some of the most important statistics from the National Institute for Literacy, National Center for Adult Literacy, The Literacy Company, and U.S. Census Bureau underscore the critical need to address illiteracy in the United States:
- Currently, 45 million Americans are functionally illiterate and cannot read above a fifth-grade level
- 50% of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth-grade level
- 57% of students failed the California Standards Test in English
- 1/3 of fourth-graders reach the proficient reading level
- 25% of students in California school systems are able to perform basic reading skills
- 85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading
- 3 out of 5 people in American prisons can’t read
- 3 out of 4 people on welfare can’t read
