Literacy and Our Children

Andrea Byrne is a LitLife Team Leader and a master secondary teacher of English. She is married to Eric Byrne, an innovative elementary educational leader and administrator and is the mother of Hannah, age 7. Pam Allyn, Executive Director of LitLife, interviews Andrea for this "Ask LitLife" column:    

1. As an educator, what do you think is the singularly most important thing a parent can do for a child in literacy at home? 

Read, read, and read...with your child, to your child and around your child. Modeling is key...novels, poetry, newspapers...devour text and feed it to your child. The sounds of beautiful language can lull a child into a rich imagination.

2. What do you see as the biggest strength of American education today?

The willingness to experiment with both the curriculum and the structure of a school.

3. The biggest weakness?

Sacrificing individual student interest and passion in the quest for "higher" achievement and entrance to "the college of one's choice."

4. In observing children in classrooms, what is your view on the quality of life for American schoolchildren these days?

Pressure...and all too many parents who demand more of it at all levels. Unfortunately, there is also a vast discrepancy between schools on the economic spectrum. Assessing the "quality of life for American schoolchildren" requires a generalization. In general, I'd like to say that the children are engaged in active learning, but there are also children whose needs are still not met in schools with limited resources and little to no professional development.

5. How do you see technology affecting literacy for our children?

Both plus and minus? On the plus side, access to information and the technologically savvy teachers who present it are hooking even the most resistant learners. The flip side though is the rampant plagiarism, the bombardment of inappropriate and even dangerous material, and the loss of basic writing skills and interpersonal communication resulting from the "IM" culture. Besides, it's sad to think that some young people will never savor the smell of a well-worn reference book.