Blogtalkradio Interview Tina Turbin On Solutions To Illiteracy

By Author: Red Wiseman
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In a recent radio interview (Joanie Winberg's blogtalkradio episode, http:// TinaTurbin.com/r/?4), children's author Tina Turbin, author of the Danny the Dragon (http://DannyTheDragon.com) series as well as a writer for many magazines, discussed how to get your child onto the road to literacy.

The interview, began with a discussion about Tina's desire to write, from her first book at age 16 to getting married at 20 and having three kids and now, with all the children moved out and on their own, Tina has been able to come back full circle to her writing and the arts.

To increase your child's literacy, Tina suggest starting off early, before school age, with visits to libraries and also recommends reading to your child. Make it a priority to take time out to create those pleasurable moments with your child. Tina stated that, "Your child doesn't have anyone else." Librarian's are usually very helpful if you ask them for books that fit your child's needs and desires. Also seek out books that you want your child to "absorb". Maybe get a few of your childhood favorites. When your child is reading, make it a game for ...
... your child and give rewards for reading. You can also use the Internet as a resource for books and suggestions. The important part is to spend time with your child, however you arrange it, for reading time.

Once your child starts school, keep an eye on their progress. Also, take the time to have your child read their favorite books to you. You can even take turns. If your child's reading assignments are too hard, cut back to easier readers. On her Danny the Dragon website, Tina offers a "Tip Sheet", for helping you to assist your child in gaining the skills they need, at an early age, to read and thus be more successful in school as well as in later years. During the interview, Tina brought up the fact that 78% of the prison population is illiterate. So, maybe she has a very valid point when she says that no child is born wanting to be a criminal and that illiteracy is an important skill for your child's later success.

Later in the interview, Tina goes on to describe the two methods of learning to read: phonics and site reading (also known as "basal"). Phonics, she said, was the preferred method that people used to be used when teaching people how to read. With the introduction of the basal method into the schools the overall statistics for literacy has drastically declined to the point where 59% of the nation's unemployed youth (16-21) are functional illiterate. It's very hard to get the job skills you need if you cannot read.

To hear the full radio show, please follow this link: http://TinaTurbin.com/r/?4

To learn more about author Tina Turbin go here:
http://TinaTurbin.com
http://DannyTheDragon.com
About Author:
Red Wiseman is an avid and intelligent writer and researcher in the Humanities, Arts and Sciences. Wiseman is always on a quest to expand his horizons and those of others via his written and spoken words.