Search Results for: blog literacy series so just what is literacy anyway

Christmas Shopping: Give the Gift of Literacy!

Radio stations are already playing Christmas music and the stores are stocking the shelves with everything from ornaments to candy, cards to jewelry. Even though we haven’t made it to Thanksgiving yet, the yuletide season is upon us and many shoppers are working on their lists now, to avoid the rush later on. As you look over your gift-giving needs and contemplate what to give Aunt Gladys or little Johnny, may we here in Media Reviews suggest that you give books this year? The ability to read is one of our most choice blessings. Of all the skills we can … Continue reading →

Literacy Links

Who can argue that literacy is one of the greatest blessings we have, one of the most important skills we need to learn, a gift that we give ourselves and to our children, and that helping someone else learn to read one of the most satisfactory experiences we can ever have? The written word is an astonishing thing. You can become educated and entertained with a book, you can learn new skills, escape to another place, receive spiritual enlightenment, find friendship when you’re lonely — I can think of no other medium that can give us all these things. As … Continue reading →

Amazon Shorts: Quick Reads for Cheap

Let me preface this blog with a disclaimer. I am an author with an Amazon Shorts title for sale. My intent is not to encourage sales, though. I recently had the opportunity to become a user of the service and was so impressed I wanted to spread the word. So I asked Tristi if I could guest blog about it and she said, “Sure!” (By the way, thanks again, Tristi!) Amazon.com is known for a bunch of services, but did you know they also publish and sell short stories? Well, they do, via their Amazon Shorts program. Finding the Amazon … Continue reading →

Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading – Maureen Corrigan

Maureen Corrigan is a book reviewer for National Public Radio’s Fresh Air program, and as such, reads scads of books. In her nonfiction memoir “Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading,” she shares her insights into literature and the many ways in which books have touched her life and indeed all of our lives. Because of the very literary and educated tone of her writing, I expected Maureen to say that she prefers to read highbrow literature, but I was surprised to hear her say that her favorite books are hard-boiled detective novels. She does read and review a variety, however, and … Continue reading →

Homeschool Glossary (Books Parents Should Read) B-C

As I mentioned in the introduction, new homeschooling parents should learn as much about homeschooling as possible by reading many different sources. Here continues my Homeschool Glossary of books parents should read. Books to Build On: A Grade-by-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series) by E. D. Hirsch Jr. and John Holdren (Paperback – Oct 1, 1996) The book list for new and prospective homeschool parents should include more than just books specifically for homeschoolers, you should also read books teachers should read. This book is a great resource to have and keep in your homeschooling library. … Continue reading →

Literacy Series: The Effect of Family on Literacy

According to the National Center for Literacy, children from lower income families will have, by the time they turn four, heard 32 million fewer words than children who were born into professional families. I don’t know how they arrived at that statistic, whether they followed these children around with a calculator, but the finding is pretty significant, regardless of how it was obtained. Another statistic from the same source says that one in five children under the age of five here in America lives in poverty. This lessens their access to proper education, books of their own, transportation to libraries, … Continue reading →

Literacy Series: Programs and Projects that Support Literacy

We all know how important literacy is, and we know that there are programs available to help us with our individual needs, but how do we find them? I ran an Internet search for “literacy programs” last night and was pleased and inspired by what I found – page after page of resources. I’d like to share some of them with you. First is the Literacy Directory. When you click on this link, you’ll see a form. Just click on your town and state, and the directory will connect you with literacy programs right in your area. It just doesn’t … Continue reading →

Literacy Series: So, Just What Is Literacy, Anyway?

If you’re looking for an answer to the question, “What is literacy?” you’re going to get different answers depending on who you’re talking to. The National Council of Teachers of English have a list of communicative competencies that they use to define literacy, and they have placed visual representation on that list, which would include being able to draw a picture of what you’ve just read. (I would really stink at that – I don’t draw.) In Scotland, they broaden the definition to include math, verbally expressing opinions, solve problems, and handle information. And yet in other areas, literacy is … Continue reading →

Author Interview – Rachel Ann Nunes, Part Three

Thank you for joining us for part three of our conversation with Rachel Ann Nunes, best-selling LDS women’s fiction author. If you missed parts one or two, click here. Rachel, in addition to the twenty-five books you have written, you are also a mother. How many children do you have? I have six children, three boys and three girls, ranging from three to sixteen years. My oldest is a senior in high school and will attend BYU next year on an academic scholarship. He’ll start as a junior because he’s already finished his associate degree. He’s a great example to … Continue reading →