Reading contributes to childhood development and lifelong success, but America’s reading report card is making a failing grade.
“There are currently 45 million Americans who are functionally illiterate, unable to read above a 5th-grade level, and half of all adults can’t read a book at an 8th-grade level,” according to The Literacy Project, an independent nonprofit.
NAEP, National Assessment of Educational Progress, a congressionally mandated project administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported additional data.
“(NCES) administered the NAEP long-term trend (LTT) reading and mathematics assessments to 13-year-old students from October to December of the 2022–23 school year. The average scores for 13-year-olds declined 4 points in reading and 9 points in mathematics compared to the previous assessment administered during the 2019–20 school year.”
Courtesy photo
Taking Proactive Measures
Providing incentives for young children to read is one way to encourage children to read more at home. For example, each April, Pizza Hut begins enrollment for the following school year to encourage reading in schools nationwide. Parents can enroll them in the free reading incentive program called BOOK IT! that targets PreK-6th grade classrooms, parents and homeschool families.
“Students may redeem one Reading Award Certificate per month, and the certificate must be used to reward the student who earned it. The student must be present. When a child redeems their Reading Award Certificate with Pizza Hut, they are celebrated with a one-topping Personal Pan Pizza,” according to www.bookitprogram.com.
Sledge House Media, an award-winning multi-platform media company created the Home Run Reader program to enable children to earn free tickets to a 2024 Brooklyn Cyclones Game by reading books and submitting brief details about each one.
“Reading allows children to explore new places with their imaginations, learn new things and grow their language abilities which are essential lifelong skills,” said Christina and Eddie Sledge, founders of Sledge House Media.
Christina and Eddie published “A Day at Shea” through their company in early 2024. The top new release and best seller on Amazon.com is intended for children ages 4 – 11. Their reimagined story features a baseball loving little girl who is from Brooklyn, New York. Chris dreams of seeing her favorite team play in Queens. When no one can take her to the game, she figures out a way to get her wish.
Reading can encourage personal and academic development, even in adults. Eddie explained that he gained his love of reading when he was a university student learning about African American history while witnessing Nikki Giovanni recite poetry when he was a soldier serving in the U.S. Army.
“It inspired me to obtain my bachelor’s degree and then later my master’s degree,” said Eddie.
The lifelong avid baseball fan mentioned that his love of baseball was ignited at a very young age and remains a big part of his life.
“I remember I went to Toronto, Ontario [Canada] in August of 2017 for the first time to see the Blue Jays play against the New York Yankees. I was awestruck. I couldn’t decide which team to root for. It was my childhood dream come true,” said Eddie.
Eddie had an opportunity to use a free ticket from the back of a Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereal box to see Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden play at Shea Stadium when he was nine years old. “A Day at Shea” is based on his true story.
Getting Back to Basics
Another method to influence children to develop life-long reading habits is by taking trips to the library with them.
Christina recalls that she gained a love of reading by visiting Brower Park Library in Crown Heights Brooklyn as a child.
“It was mesmerizing to open a book, look at the pictures and hear the stories. I felt like I was transported into the story I remember my mother reading to me at an early age. I was so excited to learn to read on my own.”
Children from different backgrounds and ethnicities benefit from feeling represented in books.
“I wanted to pay homage to my husband, Eddie, and encourage girls who love baseball. It is very important to tell stories of children of color in the sport of baseball. Representation is important for girls and boys of color to see their experiences and themselves in books and in the sport of baseball,” said Christina.
She added, “‘A Day at Shea’ reminds us to dream big! The simple act of going to a baseball game can positively impact a child’s life.”
Visit https://www.sledgehousemedia.com/ to learn more about “A Day at Shea” and Sledge House Media.