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. ;)
What to do . . .
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.