Kids Ashamed to Admit They Can't Read

February 3, 2013

Being able to read seems as much a given in today's world as being free of the dangers of polio. But where science can develop a vaccine to guard against disease, children are still moving through the grades without having mastered the ability to read. What happens to them is no less crippling than polio.

As a literate Canadian it would probably shock to you know that 48% of adults in this country over 16 are functionally illiterate. (Source: here)

That means one out of every two little kids might be joining those staggering statistics. Is it your kid or the one beside them? And how it is that either of them are at risk in 2013? 

Why? Because kids don't tell anyone they can't read. In one heartbreaking story a little boy put all his efforts into convincing people he was deaf rather than admit he couldn't read. 

How is possible that a child thinks it is more productive, less ostrasizing, more beneficial to pretend he can't hear rather than admit he can't read? Shame.

No matter how smart a kid may be at math and science, or talented as an artist, or fabulous on the playing field, not being able to read well - or at all - creates a perception amongst his peers that he is dumb.

From kindergarten to grade 3 we learn to read. From grade 4 and on we read to learn. 

There is no more instruction. By the time kids get to grade 4 they are expected to be able to learn new subjects and explore new ideas and concepts while reading - AND - they are introduced to French. 

Can you imagine how hard grade 4 must be if reading is a code you have not cracked? And as if fumbling through one language wasn't bad enough, now you have two? How lonely and dumb you must feel when all the other kids seem to be doing just fine with it? Would your behaviour change? Would you want to go to school? Would you be angry and frustrated?  

Watch this, click here  

If you think your child might be having trouble I have an expert friend who will assess your child for free. She doesn't pay me to mention her, I simply trust her, have seen her help people of all ages. Her name is Lani, her company is Beacon Literacy. Here is the site.

45% of Canadians Are Functionally Illiterate

Originally Posted September 30, 2012

 My friend and favourite sage, Lani Donaldson, owner of Beacon Literacy, told me;  

“From Kindergarten to Grade 3 we learn to read, from Grade 4 and on we read to learn.” 

I had never thought about it in such definitive terms until I had kids of my own and watched as they began their reading journey. Sure enough grade 3 was the year during which the path turned a big corner and when spelling, grammar, comprehension and the love of reading took hold. They had the key to The Code.

At least that was what most of the kids were experiencing but there were a couple for whom the road to reading was riddled with land-mines and detours and frustration and despite that they were pushed ahead to the next grade when, inevitably and sadly, they would begin to fall behind.


That kids are allowed to move on without having mastered the skills necessary to read is unbelievable.  If  children are not proficient in "reading, writing and 'rithmetic" then what is the point?

How critical is grade three? Find out here
Does your child have reading difficulties? Find out here