The first week of June hopeful and high achieving high school students abound anxiously know that in large rooms readers grade their exams. Those students hope for fives, and maybe fours. Readers . . . we hope for decent exams that will not make us second guess our teaching and jobs entirely. This year I was one of those AP Exam Readers.
A week in Louisville, KY wasn't so bad. Grading thousands of exams (actually, there was a million and a half total for the US History test) wasn't so bad. Plowing through oddly placed comments, and outright funny statements from students did more than amuse. But . . . finding the exam from a student who is barely literate made you stop in your tracks.
Why are these exams--clearly not on par with the popular culture ideal of type-A personality, power driven, and high achieving students--in with the other AP exams? Some school systems require all students to take the exam. I am told that Georgia has this practice, and in other places everyone in the class has to take the exam. Hence, we got some drawings, some poems, recipes for brownies, and the painfully brutal reminder of student ability and cracks in education with the barely literate ones.
How does this relate to literacy and learning to read? When students graduate high school with little to any reading level they become the "problem" of the larger society. More so, in some instances they try to remedy their situation later on. Sometimes these students are learning disabled, have been given false hopes for years, and other times they have been misdiagnosed. There are even the times that potentially brilliant folks have slipped through the cracks. What do we do about this?
I would love to say overhaul education nationwide, but that is something that has been in the works for years and decades. All bad teachers can not be fired because there is not always someone waiting to take that position. So, sometimes schools have to make do. Yet, little programs like mine or big ones can see potential for these students. Allowing all students with weak reading skills to come for tutoring can help the problem. I've had students who were top students in their classes, yet they still showed up at my door looking for reading help and GED testing. Why? They fell through the cracks. These aren't the same students who took the AP Exam, but they are the same type. They can barely construct a simple sentence, they can not understand words with more than two syllables, and often they stick to one syllable words for ease and knowledge.
Instead, the next time a new student crosses your path think about their placement and role within the large path of literacy and the lack thereof.
AP Reading and Literacy
What to do . . .
What does a small literacy council do when they have few, or no, students? Well . . . we find ways to get them or we find ways to try and prevent folks from needing our help in the first place.
Really.
I have a small, shared room in the local library. It has glass windows, and it sits next to the children's section. So . . . there are some tiny people I see every time I am at the library. Yes, I know. I reality that actually brings up another issue of their parents using the library as a babysitting service, but it does provide some fertile ground. Perhaps out of self-preservation so that I can work, and perhaps because their chatter overtakes me I'll sit and read with them or help them play the computer games.*
The hours I spend . . . perhaps they will remember the lady who say with them and ooed and awed over the Berstein Bears when they think about dropping out, they receive a poor test score, or the do phenomenally well. Maybe they will take those memories to a friend or family member who might need help reading. One step at a time. One step at a time.
In all reality, in the library I spent a lot of my times with the little ones on me or on the floor with them. ;)
As of late, things have been quiet. But . . . here's a random moment to maybe get you thinking.
Last week, while in St. Louis for an academic conference, and as things occur the bizarre and heartbreaking followed me. I heard a small child--maybe six or so--ask his mother what a word was in his book. I was at a sidewalk table of a local pub, and all of this occurred outside. She looked at him and said "You don't need to read so much. Here, play your video game instead." I kid you not.
The book in question . . . it was a reader for children filled with pictures.
On that note, encourage someone to read this week.
Another Event, Another Success
We’ve been testing again. As many of you know, the Emporia-Greensville Literacy Council provides free pre-GED practice exams, tutoring in reading, and an environment of encouragement. On that note, we have about six students take the pre=GED this time, and while the number might seem low all of these testers were first-timers. Yes, indeed. That, right there, shows a level of success. Reaching someone new to take the exam is always a good thing.
So, as always, send anyone our way who is thinking about the GED or wants help reading. Don’t forget, we love new volunteers too!
Let's Talk About Testing
Testing . . .testing . . .
I'm off to a literacy conference, which I am sure I will have lots of lush blogging ideas from, but in the meantime let's talk about testing. If you were a teenager in the 1990s--or the parent of one--I am certain you know the song "Let's Talk About Sex" by Salt N Pepa. In case you need a refresher have a listen loo. Yea, not the best song, but a catchy tune. It has been stuck in my head for days, even though I haven't heard it in years. I shudder, but the upside of this bizarre route of my mind is that if we could find ways to make reading this catchy then . . .
So, seriously, let's talk about testing.
Once again, we are offering a pre-GED testing event. While you can come in and take the pre-GED anytime with us, we are having an event for three days in March. March 18-20, at the Richardson Memorial Library in Emporia, anyone interested can come and take the test in one day or multiple days. Please contact Dr. Annessa Babic at annessababic@gmail.com or 804-922-7231. You can also call the library at 434-634-2539.
As before, this test can't hurt you. It is practice, will let you know how far you have come or need to go (depending on how you look at the glass), and lovely people like me are here to help you set your pathways of goals and accomplishments.
Also . . . if you are interested in helping someone take the pre-GED, instruct someone, or if you just want to see what we are all about stop by. The Emporia-Greensville Literacy Council is always looking for volunteers.
Testing Again!
Pre-GED Testing Event
The Emporia-Greensville Literacy Council would like to invite anyone who is thinking about the GED to come in take the pre-test. The test is free, about four and a half hours in length, and anyone who does not have a high school diploma is encouraged to try it. The results of this test are used to help determine what skills someone may or may not be lacking to pass the full-length exam. Most importantly, the results can not hurt you, and they are kept confidential. The Emporia-Greensville Literacy Council will also give a scholarship to the pre-tester with the highest score. This scholarship will cover the cost of the GED.
The GED pre-test dates are March 18 to 20, and the tests are in the Richardson Memorial Library. Test takers can feel free to stop by, take the exam in one sitting, or in multiple days, and times are flexible. If you have questions, or would like to set up a time to test, please contact Dr. Annessa Babic at annessababic@gmail.com or 804-922-7231. You can also call the library at 434-634-2539.
The Council can be found at http://emporiagreensvilleliteracycouncil.blogspot.com/.
Testing . . . Testing . . .
Testing . . . testing . . . yes, folks we are testing again. And no, it is not for the sound level of our digital voice. We have another pre-GED testing event in March, and as always we encourage anyone without a high school diploma to come on down.
You can find us at Richardson Memorial Library, and if we aren't there test booklets will be up front. Our trusty ad is below, and if you want help with reading or want to tutor give us a call too!
Pre-GED Event
The Emporia-Greensville Literacy Council would like to invite anyone who is thinking about the GED to come in take the pre-test. The test is free, about four and a half hours in length, and anyone who does not have a high school diploma is encouraged to try it. The results of this test are used to help determine what skills someone may or may not be lacking to pass the full-length exam. Most importantly, the results can not hurt you, and they are kept confidential. The Emporia-Greensville Literacy Council will also give a scholarship to the pre-tester with the highest score. This scholarship will cover the cost of the GED.
The GED pre-test dates are March 18 to 20, and the tests are in the Richardson Memorial Library. Test takers can feel free to stop by, take the exam in one sitting, or in multiple days, and times are flexible. If you have questions, or would like to set up a time to test, please contact Dr. Annessa Babic at annessababic@gmail.com or 804-922-7231. You can also call the library at 434-634-2539.