There is a bumper sticker that you may have seen: “If you can read this, thank a teacher”. Although reading bumper stickers can be a fun pastime, this bumper sticker makes light of one of the greatest requisites of success in the developed world, literacy.

The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise has teamed with the Department of Education Services (DES) to celebrate International Literacy Day in our schools using the theme of ‘Reading is Power’. From bookmarks to visiting readers, Cayman’s youth and the community in general, will be reminded of the importance of Literacy in our lives. Literacy is not just important to teachers or parents, but to society as a whole. Help celebrate International Literacy Day and reinforce the importance of Literacy to the Cayman Islands.

International Literacy Day, which is celebrated on 8 September was instituted by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to bring literacy awareness to the forefront. First celebrated in 1966, the aim of International Literacy Day is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

UNESCO, a key international agency in the promotion of literacy around the world, has been at the forefront of global literacy efforts since 1946.

Chair of the United States’ National Early Literacy Panel, Dr Timothy Shanahan, calls literacy a great enabler: “Literacy affects whether you’re working, what level job you’re working in, your likelihood of getting employed – all those are connected.”

In this regard, the Department of Educational Services and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise are working together locally to promote literacy in the Cayman Islands.

On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy worldwide. Celebrations take place around the world and in the Cayman Islands. This year International Literacy Day will put the spotlight on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development. Literacy and Empowerment is the theme for the 2009-2010 biennium of the United Nations Literacy Decade.

UNESCO believes that quality education, in which literacy plays a commanding role, is key to solving many of the problems that plague society. They state that education is a human right. It is through education that poverty and gender inequity can be addressed:

A good quality basic education equips pupils with literacy skills for life and further learning; literate parents are more likely to send their children to school; literate people are better able to access continuing educational opportunities; and literate societies are better geared to meet pressing development.


The power of reading aloud to your child is very essential

Reading aloud to your child is the single most powerful literacy act any and every parent can do.

Why read aloud at all?

Reading Aloud has several benefits:

• Provides a time for sharing with your child.
  
• Helps your child get ready for an activity that is an essential element of literacy instruction.
  
• New knowledge is acquired
  
• New words are learned
  
• Good fluent reading is modeled
  
• Talk and discussion are encouraged
  
• Promotes higher order thinking and understanding
  
• Does not require any special training
  
• Is inexpensive

Provides a time for sharing with your child

All it requires is a minimum of 10 minutes at least three times per week. Ideally every day would provide numerous benefits but rather than not at all, try to make it happen.

Helps your child get ready for an activity that is an essential element of literacy instruction.

At pre-school and primary school, students are read to every day as part of their literacy instruction. The Read Aloud activity is done by the teacher as a way of demonstrating that reading is a pleasurable activity. Think how prepared your child would be having done this activity with you at home. Children who have had the benefit of being read to at home, may be able to process information more efficiently and are better prepared for the guided reading instruction they will receive that is part of the Cayman Islands Literacy Strategy.

New knowledge is acquired

Reading aloud will provide an opportunity for both you and your child to gain knowledge about interests. Younger children are curious about the world. What better way to satisfy this curiosity than through books. Students as they get older begin to have a variety of interests. Just about every idea or topic can be found to be the subject of books. Reading of non -fiction books is different from that of reading stories. It is useful for children to hear both kinds of books read aloud.

New words are learned

Reading aloud, presents new words in context and can increase the number of new words in a remarkably significant way. The English language has about 600,000 words. Just imagine getting a head start to learning new words at home!

Good fluent reading is modeled

Children need good models to imitate. Listening to stories and selections read aloud, will certainly provide a good example of what is required when they start reading themselves.

Repeated daily reading of print promotes a feeling of lifelong enjoyment of reading and has an impact on school success.

Talk and discussion are encouraged

The Profile of the Educated Caymanian requires one to be literate.

The Cayman Islands National Curriculum demonstrates by its assessment of Listening and Speaking that attention should and must be given to the development of these skills. One easy, uncomplicated way to get this development started is through the Read Aloud.

Good grammar and rich vocabulary – pre-requisites to stimulating, imaginative and creative writing language - can be heard at work in stories and non-fiction material.

Talking about illustrations and books can take place in the car, on the plane, at the hairdressers. You can get a chance to score full marks with your child’s teacher to have your child be able to express an opinion, extend an idea and use new exciting words in answering questions.

Promotes higher order thinking and understanding

Listening to book selections read aloud, is an excellent way to establish new understandings and start the business of higher –order thinking. Comprehension is undoubtedly improved.

Why would we want children to think outside the box? That’s what the world of work requires of its employees. Literacy is a lifelong skill and its best to get it started as early as possible.

Does not require any special training

Reading Aloud can be as easy as brushing teeth. Comes naturally once it’s practiced often enough. Failure to do it can mean so many valuable minutes of literacy moments missed.

It’s inexpensive

With the amount of money spent on books in school, classroom and community libraries there really is no excuse for not exposing your child to this tremendously beneficial literacy activity.

Librarians and teachers are willing to guide you with age appropriate book selections.

Start now! Your child deserves this. You can take this small step now that can become a giant leap to literacy development.