RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

Thursday Thoughts

1Today’s thoughts are on my favorite topic, literacy. These statistics which I collected from different sources recently made me stop and think.  I hope they do the same to you:

34% of children entering kindergarten do not have the basic language skills they need to learn how to read.

65% of fourth graders are reading below basic grade level.

Only 37% of high school graduates are reading at or above proficiency levels.

85% of kids who go to the juvenile court system are illiterate.

WE ARE FAILING OUR CHILDREN WHEN IT COMES TO READING!

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7 responses to “Thursday Thoughts”

  1. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    It is a complicated business, coping with illiteracy and takes skilled teaching and sustained effort throughout the primary and secondary child’s school career in order to ensure their struggles with learning to read prevail. I’m dismayed at how disjointed the efforts are between the primary and secondary schools – my dyslexic granddaughter has been left to flounder more or less alone since she changed schools after being marvellously supported throughout her primary years. Fortunately, she has persevered and is slowly learning to read. But she would be far less anxious and more secure if the school stepped up and helped her…

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Sometimes it takes more than the schools have to give!

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      1. sjhigbee Avatar
        sjhigbee

        Yes… it was one of the main reasons why I left teaching when I did. After several years in Specials Needs, I became aware that I was becoming part of a system that had major faultlines in it which mangled rather than nurtured. Not because anyone was wicked or uncaring – but because there wasn’t sufficient staff or resources to do the job we claimed we were doing. And I got tired of failing children:(

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  2. carhicks Avatar
    carhicks

    Such sad statistics. One of the reasons I still like to have a book in my hand and not just my tablet, is so my grandchildren see me reading. I don’t want them to think I am just “playing” on my tablet. We need to set an example for our children.

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Good role-modeling, Hon!

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  3. Rebecca Douglass Avatar
    Rebecca Douglass

    It’s frustrating. I am on my local school board, and I can testify that most of the people in our district are working very hard, and doing the research to try to get it right. And still our numbers are lackluster (though maybe a little better than the national average). There are a lot of reasons for that–including a high percentage of English learners. But it’s disheartening. And sometimes I am confused. Learning to read was so easy for me, I can’t even remember doing it! What makes it so different for so many kids?

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      I wish I knew the answers! I have resigned myself to doing SOMETHING, one reader at a time.

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