Adult Literacy and Resources In North Carolina

I love reading and even studied English in college just so I would be required to read.  It was great getting to read books and write about, discuss, and mull over their meanings or just enjoy the stories from contemporary to classic works.  While I don’t claim to be an expert, and I’m not the fastest of readers, I will always strive to spend my free time reading. Also, reading helps with understanding.  With Google and other search engines and resources literally in our hands, we can look up almost any information or fact or figure or bit of trivia in seconds. A love of reading, or just the ability to read well, is something that I believe makes for a more well-rounded, thoughtful, and educated person.

There are countless men and women who either don’t know how to read entirely or read well below the skill level for their age.  I recall being in High School and the differences in reading abilities even then were noticeable as some classmates could easily flow through passages they were reading to the class while other stumbled over words, got lost mid-sentence, or simply struggled with a simple passage.  

Yet, there is not a single thing wrong with being a poor reader or being unable to read, but in today’s world, there is also no reason not to change that.  Anyone with the will and work ethic can become not just a comprehensive reader but a great one! Videos online abound that will help new or struggling readers, there are resources at all levels for those looking to improve, and as people work to better understand how to read, they also can build the ability to comprehend.

Here in North Carolina, we have a resource that might be beneficial to many struggling to read.  While my intent isn’t to promote this resource specifically, since local schools, libraries, and even county or town councils are there for you but a collection of these resources can be found at North Carolina Literacy Association (https://ncliteracy.org/).

Their main page states that reading, writing, math, and language skills are vital nowadays to thriving in a global economy, and as our world grows, so does our need to understand new and emerging issues, ideas, and policies.  Again, the NC Literacy Association isn’t your only resource but has a collection of a lot of good contacts and materials, but don’t fail to look in your town, local college or university or school system, or your local library for help.  There is nothing shameful about struggling with or being unable to read, but in this day and time, there is also no reason not to improve your skills when so much help is at hand.