EDceptional

Together Achieving More Summer Family Literacy Program Week 4 Recap What an unforgettable way to conclude our Together Achieving More Summer Family Literacy Program, a collaboration between Let’s Get L.I.T. (Liberating Individuals Through Literary Texts) and EDceptional! This week, our scholars experienced the beauty of learning beyond the classroom during an incredible visit to A Horse’s Friend. They had the opportunity to learn how to care for horses, groom them, and ride scenic trails, all while gaining a deeper appreciation for the responsibility, patience, and trust required to build a relationship with these remarkable animals. More than just horseback riding, this experience introduced our youth to the therapeutic benefits of working with animals. They discovered how caring for horses can reduce stress, build confidence, encourage emotional regulation, and foster empathy. As they stepped outside of their comfort zones, many also discovered a new level of courage within themselves. The lessons learned this week extended far beyond the stable. Our scholars were reminded that growth happens when we are willing to learn something new, embrace challenges, and connect with the world around us. As we close out this year’s Together Achieving More Summer Family Literacy Program, our hearts are full of gratitude, for our families, community partners, volunteers, instructors, and every child who showed up ready to learn, grow, and dream. Over the past four weeks, we have witnessed curiosity ignite, confidence blossom, families learn together, and a community unite around one common purpose: empowering children through literacy and lifelong learning. Four incredible weeks. Countless memories. Endless possibilities. Because literacy is not confined to the pages of a book, it is found in every experience that teaches us to observe, communicate, think critically, and grow. Literacy is Liberation. Sebrone (See'brin) O. Johnson EDceptional #TogetherAchievingMore #LetsGetLIT #EDceptional #AHorsesFriend #LiteracyIsLiberation #ExperientialLearning #FamilyLiteracy #YouthDevelopment #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #TherapeuticHorsemanship #CommunityStrong

Last week, Sebrone O. Johnson and I had the privilege of welcoming Jeff Smink to our Together Achieving More Summer Family Literacy Evening Program, a collaboration between EDceptional and Let’s Get L.I.T. What he shared wasn’t just a presentation, it was a wake-up call. Together, parents, grandparents, educators, and concerned community members took a deep dive into the Education Trust-New York reports on the early literacy crisis impacting Rochester, Monroe County, and New York State. The numbers were difficult to hear, but they revealed a truth we can no longer ignore. According to the Education Trust, fewer than 40% of Monroe County’s third graders are reading proficiently, and in Rochester, the numbers are even more alarming. Before the pandemic, only 18% of Rochester third graders were reading proficiently, compared with 45% across Monroe County and 52% statewide. These are more than statistics, they represent children whose futures, opportunities, and dreams are being shaped by whether or not they are given the fundamental right to read. (The Education Trust-New York⁠) But here’s what gives us hope: The report also reminds us that 95% of children can learn to read when they receive evidence-based instruction and the right support. This crisis is not inevitable. It is solvable. (The Education Trust-New York⁠) As we wrestled with the data together, one thing became abundantly clear: literacy is not just an education issue. It is an economic issue. A workforce issue. A public safety issue. A family issue. A community issue. Most importantly, it is a human issue. Frederick Douglass once said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” At Let’s Get L.I.T., we believe those words still ring true today: Literacy is Liberation. We can no longer afford to stand on the sidelines while another generation is left behind. Change will not come from schools alone. It will come when parents, educators, faith leaders, businesses, policymakers, and neighbors unite around one common purpose: ensuring every child has the opportunity to read, to dream, and to thrive. It truly takes a village. Will you be part of the solution? Will you mentor a child, volunteer, advocate for evidence-based literacy instruction, support family literacy programs, or simply commit to reading with a child in your life? The future of our community is being written today. Let’s make sure every child has the ability to read it. Sebrone (See'brin) O. Johnson EDceptional Jeff Smink EdTrust-New York #LiteracyIsLiberation #LetsGetLIT #TogetherAchievingMore #FamilyLiteracy #EducationMatters