September is Literacy Month
The month of September is dedicated to literacy, and there's a good reason why. Over 36 million adults in the U.S. can't read well enough to fill out a job application (source: Proliteracy). If you are one of the many Americans struggling with reading, you are not alone. The good news is that there are many local organizations ready to help adults boost their literacy skills.
Pearl received tutoring from the Topeka Literacy Council
Pearl is a local Topeka resident who found out first hand how life changing improving her literacy skills could be. Pearl had kept a secret for years. She wasn’t good at writing and struggled with reading. Although she had an associate’s degree and helped to run a business, she covered up her weakness. She learned to cope by using her excellent verbal communication skills and delegating writing to other people in the office.
One day as Pearl observed a 2-year-old girl she was babysitting, she thought about how she wanted more. She yearned to be a good role model for the young people in her life. That’s when a brochure she had picked up about the Topeka Literacy Council’s tutoring program led her to a turning point. She had held onto that brochure for months while she battled with thoughts such as “What will people think?” and “I’m too old.” Finally she found the courage to call and say, “I want help.”
Pearl worked with a tutor to improve her skills. Eventually she had progressed so far she could go no further—unless she went back to college. Pearl is now attending Washburn University and working toward a bachelor's degree. She no longer has to hide, and she hopes to use her skills to mentor and counsel young people.
Pearl’s story is not as rare as you might think. As many as 23,000 adults in Shawnee County lack basic literacy skills. This does not necessarily mean they can’t read at all, but that they find tasks such as interpreting instructions, reading maps, balancing a checkbook or figuring out a tip to be difficult.
Those adults also have an impact on the children who are in their lives. The more adults who read to children and engage them in activities such as word games, singing, and writing the more successful they will be at learning to read and in school. Yet if the adults in a child’s life struggle with literacy, the less able they are to pass on those vital skills to the next generation.
Pearl says to those who have hidden struggles, “Get over the embarrassment. You have to want it for you and for the next generation. Find the determination and courage to get help.”
The Topeka Literacy Council provides individual tutoring in reading, writing, math and English as a second language for adult learners. Let’s Help has adult basic education classes which include GED preparation classes and classes that enable students to get the Kansas WORKReady! Certificate which shows potential employers proof of skills in reading, locating information and mathematics. The USD 501 Adult Education program holds extensive GED preparation classes at the Washburn Institute of Technology. The New Directions Learning Academy is a virtual high school diploma completion program. The Library is ready to support adult learners in any of these programs. with print and online resources.
All it takes is one connection in the right place to get someone like Pearl the help that they need—so spread the word.
Resources
(785) 273-7140
An online test preparation and skill building resource provided by the State Library of Kansas and the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Includes GED test prep e-books and courses.
