This is a girl with a curl.

If any of you Birminghamians have been wondering where the Davis' have been for the last couple days, let me tell you. We've been attending a workshop to become certified to teach adult literacy. In some ways, we resisted committing to both the workshop and taking on students, but i think after last night, we both may soon be paired up with adults who will come to us seeking to learn how to read. It's a pretty amazing concept. My brain really doesnt know how to comprehend not knowing how to read. I honestly dont have the slightest recollection of learning how to read. I remember my parents reading to me profusely as a small child and then i have a vague memory of finishing my first "chapter book." but the effort that must have occurred somewhere in between is completely lost. I remember going to the library and checking out about 15 books at a time every week. and in elementary school the library in out neighborhood (the county library was literally in our subdivision) was our daily hang out.
In alabama 1 in 4 adults reads below a 6th grade reading level. The average adult reading level for the state is 8th grade. I guess the only way to begin to comprehend it is the feeling of being in another country and not understanding any of the signs around. I know that I totally take reading for granted. In a few weeks we will meet our adult students and teach them this chart: this is a bird with his tail in the air. say "bird." this is a letter that looks like a bird with his tail in the air. say "bird." this is the word bird, read "bird." the word bird begins with the sound "buh" say "buh." the name of the letter that makes the sound "buh" is "b" say "b." and so on. According to our teacher the success rates for these students is pretty high. most of them don't have a learning disability, aren't stupid, just for one reason or another, never learned how to read. Many examples were of kids who had to take on a lot of family responsibility at a young age and missed the crucial learning. The program we're doing also uses the bible to teach. every week the student learns how to read a Bible verse. It is beautiful and exciting to know God's heart for reading is so big that he chose to communicate his word to the world in written form. What an incredible thing to introduce to someone. I'm humbled, a little scared, and excited.