Reading is Essential for All People is a non-profit corporation dedicated to improving reading proficiency through teacher training and enrichment. REAP provides public school teachers with specialized training that reinforces the foundations of reading. These training approaches are helpful for any child, in any classroom, small group, or one-on-one situation, and are especially critical for struggling readers. Everyone knows a struggling reader… wouldn’t it be great if they didn’t? Readers struggle for many reasons. Dyslexia is a condition that makes it hard for people to learn to read. REAP recognizes that dyslexics make up approximately 20% of the population. We’re also concerned about the rest of the struggling readers which include English language learners, students with focus challenges and attention challenges, and children who have never been to school or never had exposure to books and language. The Stats: 66% of 4th graders are not reading proficiently. (NAEP 2013) 33% of 4th graders are unable to read at a basic level. (NAEP 2013) 20% of the population is dyslexic. (Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity 2005, and National Institute of Health) Prison cell planning is directly related to high school graduation rates and graduation rates are directly related to literacy. What’s missing? Many schools teach reading with a “whole word language” approach. This approach alone is not enough to create strong readers and writers. Typical students are reaching middle school with poor spelling and writing skills. Some struggling students can barely read at all. As public school systems continue to endure deep budget cuts the opportunities for teacher training and enrichment decrease or disappear entirely. REAP’s goal is to build reading proficiency by giving public school teachers the tools and training they need to create stronger, more proficient readers with a brighter future.
