Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. Kofi Annan

What do you know about literacy in America?  Before I became a teacher, I thought everyone could read as well as I could.  That concept was untrue then, and it certainly is untrue now. Take a look at these startling reading statistics regarding reading and Americans: 

The Nation

• In a study of literacy among 20 ‘high income’ countries; US ranked 12th
• Illiteracy has become such a serious problem in our country that 44 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children
• 50% of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth grade level
• 45 million are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level
• 44% of the American adults do not read a book in a year
• 6 out of 10 households do not buy a single book in a year

The Economy

• 3 out of 4 people on welfare can’t read
• 20% of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage
• 50% of the unemployed between the ages of 16 and 21 cannot read well enough to be considered functionally literate
• Between 46 and 51% of American adults have an income well below the poverty level because of their inability to read
• Illiteracy costs American taxpayers an estimated $20 billion each year
• School dropouts cost our nation $240 billion in social service expenditures and lost tax revenues

Impact on Society:

• 3 out of 5 people in American prisons can’t read
• To determine how many prison beds will be needed in future years, some states actually base part of their projection on how well current elementary students are performing on reading tests
• 85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading
• Approximately 50% of Americans read so poorly that they are unable to perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels

(Source: National Institute for Literacy, National Center for Adult Literacy, The Literacy Company, U.S. Census Bureau)  http://literacyprojectfoundation.org/community/statistics/

So, what can just one person do to improve reading in America? 

You can read to a child.  You can help to instill a love and appreciation of reading into a child's mind. You can read to a child with a silly voice and animation!  You can talk about the magic of reading, and how reading can transport the reader into the limitless territory of the imagination! You can model the example of a reader.

I have been reading GRADY GETS GLASSES to classrooms around Pennsylvania, and I love the excitement and exuberance I see for the book- and for READING!  (Yes, I am a very animated presenter - English/Theater teacher.)

EVERYONE can be a reading teacher.  Everyone can help to promote literacy. For our society to be better, we must create better readers - in our homes, at schools, and in other venues.  Are you interested in being a volunteer literacy coach?  You can do that, too!  

Literacy affects every thread of the fabric of our society, and we must all work together to improve our nation's collective reading scores, our economics, our society, and our lives. 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom. Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. 

Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER.  Many colleges have made the book required reading. 
Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired! 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com .  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com IS UP AND RUNNING!!!.  Signed copies ARE available!  Coloring books and Grady plush toys are ordered! 

Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman
Periscope   @dederittman
Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules
LinkedIn   Dede Rittman
Google +   Dede Rittman
Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher
Instagram   dede_rittman 
Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ®



Dede is the co-host of The Total Education Q & A, which can be heard on Blogtalk Radio at www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor 

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. Steve Jobs

Besides being an author, speaker, and teacher, I also work several hours a week as a radio show producer with my friend Neil Haley of The Total Education Network.  Neil is a teacher, tutor, social media and branding coach, educational advocate, radio show host, celebrity interviewer, television show host, a husband, and a father of five.  I do not know when he sleeps!  Neil has been a visionary for me, as we began working together shortly after I published my first book for student teachers, but I had no idea of how to market it.  Neil coached me, helped me to prioritize my workload, taught me about Twitter, podcasts, broadcasts, Facebook, LinkedIn, and much more.  He is very brilliant!  I have enjoyed many opportunities for interviews, guest authorships, speaking engagements, and more under his tutelage. Neil's enthusiasm for all of the jobs he does make him a force with which to be reckoned. He is a cyclone in the guise of a man, filling every corner of a room with energy. 

I help to book some of Neil's radio shows, and it is very easy to become friends with the awesome people I meet through email.  Just like Neil, each of the interviewees has a true desire to make the world a better place; or at least his/her small part of the world. Their passions come in a variety of flavors:  authors, teachers, journalists, herbalists, spiritualists, psychologists, psychiatrists, inventors, and more! Being surrounded by people who are so ardent about their life's work makes me feel even more passionate about my work, and that is saying quite a bit!  Neil's interviews are so inspiring; his station and style are truly antidotes to the blues! 

People who show a passion for their work are fun to have as friends, even for 30 minutes on a radio interview. Their energy surrounds them like a multi-colored rainbow bubble, and they have a sort of happy glow from within. Listeners can hear the energy and enthusiasm in their voices during the interviews. Having a zeal for work and life is a gift;  that passion can be difficult to sustain in a world in which the trampling of dreams is more common than the support of dreamers. Neil is an expert interviewer, who is so comfortable in his conversations with his guests, that they tell me the interview "flew by" and it "was a blast!" Would you like to know a little radio show producer secret? In my reminder email for each guest, I give two important pieces of advice: show your passion for your subject, and keep a glass of water close at hand! I tell them that they will be having a conversation with a new friend; there is nothing about which to be nervous. That advice works every time! Just like in life, interviews on the radio are all about being who you are.

The same is true for teaching.  When teachers show their passion for their subjects, learning, teaching, and their students, suddenly discipline problems disappear!  Everyone enjoys being part of the energy of one who loves and believes in the work he is doing. 

If you have not listened to The Total Education Network, I invite you to log into www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor.  You will see dozens of choices - from celebrities to first time authors.  The interviews are carried on 120 stations in 80 countries (some terrestrial, some Internet), and we average 2.5 million listeners per week. Maybe from listening to others share their ideas, some listeners will develop a new dedication for their life's work! 

I would love to hear from you!  So would Neil!  I will pass your comments on to him!

This piece was posted with the approval of Neil Haley. 

 dederittman@gmail.com 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. 

Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER.  Many colleges have made the book required reading. 
Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired! 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com .  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com IS UP AND RUNNING!!!.  Signed copies ARE available!  Coloring books are here, and Grady plush toys are ordered! 

Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman
Periscope   @dederittman
Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules
LinkedIn   Dede Rittman
Google +   Dede Rittman
Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher
Instagram   dede_rittman 
Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ®



Dede is the co-host of The Total Education Q & A, which can be heard on Blogtalk Radio at www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor 

While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about. - Angela Schwindt

I have been enjoying reading my new children's book GRADY GETS GLASSES to preschoolers and other elementary students around the Pittsburgh area.  I taught 10th grade English and theater for 37 years, and I was a little concerned about dealing with the little ones.  I must share that my experiences have been delightful, and the tiny tykes are really not so different from the 10th graders.  It has been nothing short of FUN!

I want to share some humorous observations  (so far) from the preschool and elementary students and schools in which I have presented:

"Criss-cross, Applesauce!" means to sit down on the floor with legs crossed.  We never used this expression in 10th grade, but it works great with elementary kids!  (I found out that this phrase replaces one formerly used which is now politically incorrect.)

I have noticed that for whatever reason, all elementary schools smell exactly the same. (Chalk? Crayons?? Cleaning products????)

Toilets in elementary school lavatories are very short.  And virtually every girls' room has a sign that says "Remember to flush."  I am wondering what percentage of small girls can read that sign?  

Adults in elementary restrooms must become VERY AWARE of not tripping over small stools which are in front of some sinks.

When asked their names, students will tell you not only their name, but also their first initial. Example of a student I called upon and asked his name - he said  "I am Logan S." Of course, I had to reply, "I am Dede R." 

I like to ask the kids their ages, just to break the ice. During my introduction, I tell them that I was a teacher for 37 years. Each and every  time I have said this, there has been an audible gasp from the group. Some small brave souls actually ASK my age (63), and, of course, I answer truthfully. One boy said, "Wow, you are almost as old as my Grandpa, and he is REALLY old.  He's 66!"  Very cute. 

I have ordered 500 Grady bunnies to sell with the book.  When I show the Grady bunny and share  this information to the kids, they always ask if I can GIVE them one.  (very cute)  I tell them that the bunnies will be for sale, and their lack of understanding about money is so funny.  Some guess $1, others as much as $100.  Bottom line- they want one! (Good news for me as an entrepreneur)

Connecting with kids in grade 1 or grade 10 is what it is all about.  I was very touched that some students walked up to hand me their name tags - to keep- because "I want you to remember me."   Very sweet. Nothing in teaching and technology will ever replace the eye contact and exchange of smiles. I love receiving the thank you notes and funny drawings as well.  One little boy wrote: "You are very funny and I love Grady."

I like to pass the Grady prototype plush bunny around, and everyone gives him a little hug. Kids notice everything- like "Grady's whisker is in his eye, and you should fix it, because it is bothering him."  All right, whisker fixed! 

Children are so kind.  When reading to the kids, I wear bunny ears, which fell off at one point, and a child hopped up to pick them up and handed them to me. Grady the prototype bunny fell off my lap, and was caught by another student. He gently put Grady back on my lap, saying that he was very glad that Grady "Did not get hurt."

Children have no inhibitions, which can be very funny. I walk a fine line as a guest author, because I am not really the teacher, but of course, all behavior is expected to be appropriate.  Some of the little ones want to talk and talk, when the others want to hear the story.  I had to look at a few groups and say "Stop" in my teacher voice to get them back on task.  Just like 10th grade- some things are the same for kids of all ages! 

It's curious to observe the kids who are really needy for attention, or the ones who are so painfully shy.  One student, who must never open his mouth to say anything, had a lengthy conversation with me about Grady and his glasses, and the other kids appeared to be dumbfounded that this child was speaking. (I was thrilled- I love being recognized by the kids as the approachable and "not scary"  teacher.) 

And perhaps the most important observation - being a high school teacher is so much easier than teaching elementary school.  The elementary teacher does not have even one second of down time!  My hat is off to elementary teachers!

I have really enjoyed a great few months back in the (elementary) classroom! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. 

Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER.  Many colleges have made the book required reading. 
Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired! 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com .  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com IS UP AND RUNNING!!!.  Signed copies ARE available!  Coloring books and Grady plush toys are ordered! 

Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman
Periscope   @dederittman
Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules
LinkedIn   Dede Rittman
Google +   Dede Rittman
Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher
Instagram   dede_rittman 
Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ®


Dede is the co-host of The Total Education Q & A, which can be heard on Blogtalk Radio at www.blogtalkradio.com/totaltutor 

"If you stare at a painting and don't see yourself there, paint your own portrait." GIANT STEPS TO CHANGE THE WORLD by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee

Are you on Twitter?  I have been tweeting for over a year, and I am stunned that such a massive social media forum could allow me to create real relationships with others. Last week, I tweeted this picture about reading with this caption:
 Dede Faltot Rittman‏@dederittman #ThursdayThoughts EVERY teacher is a reading teacher! Share your love of reading/knowledge! http://dederittman.com

A young lady answered my tweet with : Tracey-Ann Lafayette ‏@LafayetteTA  Feb 25

Tracey-Ann Lafayette Retweeted Dede Faltot Rittman

Would love to paint something like this for my classroom!

I wrote @LafayetteTA I think you should!!! A few days later, Tracey tweeted this statement and picture: Tracey-Ann Lafayette ‏@LafayetteTA  Feb 27 I want my future students to be able to see themselves in our classroom, so this is the first step

I was impressed!  A young lady was creating something beautiful for her students to view- and to see themselves in her paintings through her eyes.  I had to know more about this enthusiastic young teacher! So I wrote her a message on Twitter, and I made an interview time with her on Google hangouts.  (As I have mentioned before, writing opportunities present themselves to me, and I thought this interview would be a great one! I was right! )

Tracey-Ann Lafayette is in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. She is just 22 years old, and she loves teaching 3 days a week as part of her graduate program. Tracey’s parents are from Jamaica, where her mom was a special education teacher and other relatives were librarians and teachers, but for most of her life, Tracey thought she would be a pediatrician. An only child, Tracey did lots of arts and crafts during her alone time, and she decided to teach herself to paint, as a means of connecting with her future classroom students. Tracey told me that she thinks her students will be able to see and imagine themselves in her paintings, and she hopes her paintings will help them to see and imagine their goals and futures as well. I like that!  Tracey shared that she was positively influenced by a quote from the book Giant Steps to Change the World by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee: "If you stare at a painting and don't see yourself there, paint your own portrait." 

Our conversation was stimulating and informative. Tracey and another grad student work with 4^th grade students using a Socratic seminar approach to learning, which she explained is a student-led discussion method approach to a book they are reading- Frindle- which leads to improved thinking, speaking, listening, and reading skills and also deepens thinking. She is impressed with the discussion level of the students, as well as their ability to stay on task, which is part of a self-assessment students complete. Tracey had several choices for her experience: robotics, working with homeless students, math interventions, differentiated instruction, and more. She is so happy she chose Socratic seminar, and from hearing Tracey speak, she is enjoying teaching and learning as much as her students.

Besides her involvement at her school, Tracey also helped to create a club at UCONN to support students of color within the School of Education. They have attended and presented at conferences, and have an invitation to present again this spring. Last year, they attended the25th Annual National Association for Multicultural Education Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, presenting "Organizing to Realize Aspirations: Creating a Pipeline for Students of Color in a Teacher Preparation Program." This session was multidimensional in the way that it was a panel style presentation that included student voices, advisors from the School of Education, a professor and an alum of the program. 

The conference Tracey will be attending this month is the New York Collective of Radical Educators conference and our session is called Leadership in Diversity: Finding our Voices. This presentation is going to be very student focused as we speak about what our club is, why it is important, and how similar organizations can be started at other universities. 

I am so happy I made a connection with this young educator, thanks to Twitter. Teaching is a difficult and demanding job, and enthusiasm and caring for students is what makes the job so worthwhile.  Tracy is currently interviewing in Connecticut, and I think she presents herself as a great teacher candidate.  I know that I would hire her! 

ADDENDUM- Tracey was hired as a teacher on Monday, March 7- the same day as this post!  Kudos to Tracey!! 

Please follow both of us on Twitter for more surprises and positive interactions! 

Tracey is @LafayetteTA and I am @dederittman

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. This post was written with the permission of Tracey Lafayette. 

Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER.  Many colleges have made the book required reading. 

Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

Contact Dede if you would like her speak to your faculty or student teachers. dederittman@gmail.com

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired! 

Here is the link the my 15 second Grady Gets Glasses commercial! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=881Z3e34X9s

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com .  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com IS UP AND RUNNING!!!.  Signed copies ARE available!  Coloring books and Grady plush toys are ordered! 

Please like Dede's new page -Grady Gets Glasses- for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman

Periscope   @dederittman

Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules

LinkedIn   Dede Rittman

Google +   Dede Rittman

Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher

Instagram   dede_rittman 

Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

 

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