Michigan is currently in the midst of a literacy crisis, with this spring’s statewide M-STEP test scores revealing that only 39.6% of 4th graders are able to read at a proficient or advanced level for their age. These scores are the lowest recorded since the inception of the test back in 2015.
This issue reaches well beyond the 4th grade, however, with recent statistics showing that 54% of all adults in the United States are unable to read at a 6th grade level and one out of every five adults don’t even make it to the 3rd grade benchmark.
Research in recent years has expanded the basic definition of literacy from simply knowing how to read. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) states literacy as the ability for a person to actively engage with texts from any medium while also comprehending what they're reading.
These skills extend much farther than the classroom. Being able to read and understand instructions, medications, even advertisements, reading is an integral part of day-to-day life. Even critical thinking skills are a sign of higher literacy.
There is also functional illiteracy. This is the ability to read simple texts and understand basic vocabulary, while struggling to understand much more without help. This can begin to cause issues throughout life, holding people back from their full potential.
Even in a school setting, being able to read at an appropriate level goes much farther than in the English classroom. A student being able to fully understand the assignments placed in front of them can be the difference between passing and failing, or even making it to graduation.
One group in Mount Pleasant is hoping to change these numbers, one book at a time.
The Sleepy Dog Books Foundation was created to help bring a love of books and reading to children across central Michigan. Co-Executive Director Riley Justis told WCMU he wants the foundation to support the community and make a difference by changing he paradigm by raising literacy rates right at home.
“The mission of the foundation is to get books into the homes of kids,” Justis said. “How do we teach children literacy skills and tools? They’re getting this in the classroom, but we want to also train parents and caregivers how to interact with their kids in a more effective way. So we started to develop resources around that as well.”
Nearly all of a child's vocabulary comes from their parents, ranging from 86-98%. A college study also says children with parents who have low literacy skills are 72% more likely to also have low literacy.
One of the ways the foundation helps to bring skills and resources to the community is through their family literacy nights, with the most recent being in Coleman earlier this month.
“We bring in literacy specialists that work with the parents on literacy skills, on how to actively read with children, how to interact and ask questions about character and plot setting, problem solving. All of those different components modeled for the parents, getting them engaged in the questions that they’re having with their kids," Justis explained.
The foundation has also added book vending machines into local schools, giving children easier access to age appropriate reading material.
“A student can earn a token based on behavior, test scores, whatever works with the school. And rather than a pizza party or a sticker, they get a book. They get something that, to them, they can take home and keep forever."
Justis then told the story of a young lady who saved her book token in anticipation of getting a specific book from the machine in her school.
“She wanted a book that was a couple of books back, so she checked it every day for about a month, waiting for her book to come up. That delayed reward factor is just something you can’t get without that machine.”
The foundation will be holding a gala in March on the campus of Central Michigan University to help bring awareness to their cause. Information on the gala and the foundation can be found here.
