HITTING THE BOOKS
New push for reading and literacy underway in Trenton
According to my mother, I was recognizing letters and doing very basic reading at 2 years old.
I think my mother is a delusional liar, but according to her, this was the case. When I was crawling, she says, she would play this game with me where she’d call out a letter and I would, on hands and knees, find the corresponding letter on a toy block.
In the end, maybe there’s some truth to this, as by first grade — and I have people who can attest to this — my teacher, Mrs. Buzinsky, was admonishing my fellow students with the following phrase: “Jeffrey is not a dictionary.” See, I could read the shizz out of any “Clifford” you plopped down in front of me.
I was a reader. I continue to be, and is it really any surprise I’ve turned out to be a writer? (Gah, I wish my mother had me crawling around to pick up stethoscopes and having me diagnose ACL tears. Thanks A LOT MOM.)
Bigger point here: Despite being a delusional liar, my mother worked with me in attempting to boost my literacy skills. Unfortunately, not every kid is so lucky.
For instance, nearly 70 percent of Trenton third graders are not reading at level. That’s unacceptable, right? Former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer thinks so as well, which is why he’s taken on the role of chairman of The Trenton Literacy Movement. (He’s also taken on the role of chief contributor, having pledged $50,000 over the next five years.)
And what is The Trenton Literacy Movement? It’s a charitable organization that is setting itself up as the grout to make sure those 70 percent of Trenton kids don’t fall through the cracks. The TLM will run programs after school getting K-3 kids where they are supposed to be. Starting this fall and running three hours per week per student, the program — which uses existing computers and technology in the district — is already showing tremendous success.
“We’re running a pilot program right now at Robbins and P.J. Hill,” Palmer told me. “We started in February with 21 students, 100 percent of them not reading on grade level. Today, 60 percent of them are already at grade level.”
Less than three months, and boom. More than half of these kids get caught up. Which is wildly important.
“From kindergarten to third grade, you learn to read,” Palmer said. “From fourth grade on, you read to learn. And if you’re in fourth grade and can’t read, that’s when the problems start.”
Problems like half the kids in fourth grade eventually not graduating high school.
“It’s no one’s fault, but it’s just the reality,” Palmer said. “Everyone has to play a role in making sure these kids learn to read.”
To that end, Palmer and the TLM have partnered with local clergy, both from inside the city and out, to help raise awareness. The reverends, rabbis, and imams who have joined forces promise to discuss the issue with their congregations and all have set aside the week of July 30 to help raise money for the cause.
Part of the problem, Palmer notes, is the differences in child-rearing between the suburbs and the inner cities.
“I saw a study that showed inner city youngsters, by the time they’re in third grade, have heard three million words,” Palmer said. “Suburban kids? Eleven million. This helps with phonics, all contributes to their being able to articulate their thoughts. Because of my own ignorance I used to see what I used to think of as ‘hippie moms’ talking to their little infants. ‘We’re going to go to the market today, we’re going to buy pineapples,’ and I’m like this kid has no idea what you’re saying. But that’s me not being informed. All those things help with their phonics. Talking to your children, exposing them to the language. If nothing else, I want to encourage all parents to talk to your youngsters from the womb up. It will help get them ready for school.”
Maybe my mom was on to something. I can still crawl and retrieve letters like no one else.
If you’re interested in donating to The Trenton Literacy Movement, check out their website at trentonliteracymovement.org or simply write to The Trenton Literacy Movement, MidJersey Center for Economic Development, 423 Riverview Plaza, Trenton NJ 08611.