Early introduction to reading creates long lasting habits

By Lee Watson

The ability to read is the foundation for lifelong learning.  When mothers read to their babies it promotes early language learning and early literacy skills. Babies start hearing different sounds in utero between 23 and 27 weeks. They are introduced to a sense of emotion, tone, and inflection during this time so reading aloud is one of the most important things parents can do to foster a healthy learning environment for their child pre-birth.

The earlier a child becomes familiar with books and reading, the likelihood of them maintaining the habit of reading in their more formative years. Reading is an important communications tool and assist a child in understanding the world and sharpens its analytical skills.

Michigan students have continually made the least improvement nationally of scores since 2003. Michigan ranks last in terms of proficiency growth since 2003.

Former Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill into law that states that a child may be retained in third grade if they are one or more grade levels behind in reading at the end of third grade. To help more students be proficient by the end of third grade, the law requires extra support for K-3 students who are not reading at grade level (https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/third-grade-reading/). Current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is vehemently opposed to this as she describes it as “destructive” and looks to overturn it siting that the law doesn’t solve or even really address the problem rather it would make an already struggling student feel bad about his/herself. Her solution would be to increase the budget for literacy coaches and more intense instruction.

Michigan’s Early Literacy Taskforce meets monthly to address the most critical issues associated with the state’s literacy shortfalls. The task force has identified a minimum standard of care that can be implemented into classrooms which include instructional practices to promote literacy.

Literacy is vitally important to the educational structure for Michigan’s next generation of contributing citizens. Michigan’s renewed investment in childhood literacy is a good thing. If people are committed to working toward solutions to the literacy crisis, which some see as a public health issue, we should expect to see an improvement in the state’s childhood literacy rates.

Lee Watson is Public Relations Manager at Authority Health.