On a train, heading Londonwards. Time for #TenTweets. Given the current grammar debate, let's make it about LITERACY. Follow #TenThingsAboutLiteracy to collect them all!
1. The National Literacy Trust's figures show that 15% of adults in the U.K. are functionally illiterate. That's about 5.1 million people. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
2. Literacy impacts all aspects of a person's life: their job; their mental and physical health; their likelihood of being involved in crime; their wealth; their happiness; their children's future. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
3. An illiterate parent can't read to their pre-school children, which means that their children are already at a significant disadvantage when they start school. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
4. Reading, like all other skills, improves with practice. Not discussion, dissection or debate. PRACTICE. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
5. A lack of practice leads to children falling behind in reading, and eventually losing the habit altogether. These children rarely catch up. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
6. Some children need more encouragement than others to practice their reading. The solution is making them WANT to read. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
7. Children, like anyone else, WANT to do what they ENJOY doing. That goes for reading too. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
8. Trying to explain to them that reading is good for them, will help them in later life, or is necessary to pass tests doesn't work at all. In fact, it puts them off - sometimes permanently. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
9. What *does* work is letting them enjoy reading without interference, criticism, judgement, or misguided attempts to push them towards the classics. Let them read. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
10. Correct spelling and grammar can wait until they're hooked on reading. They'll pick those things up naturally from their reading, anyway. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
And kids - never, NEVER take advice on reading, grammar, or any related topic from an adult who doesn't read for pleasure. Ask them what book they last read, and when. If it was more than six months ago, chances are you already know more than they do. #TenThingsAboutLiteracy
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