I know I’ve been doing a lot of holidays, but good ones keep coming up.  Also, school started and things are busy.  Today, I’m bringing a really important holiday to you, which I think more people need to be aware of.

Literacy is very important to future success.  As you can see from the infograph I found with a Google Image Search, most of those who can’t read end up in jail or at least on welfare.  So, how can one help an adult who has this problem?

I found a list on Readingpatch that can answer this, but here is the quick list:

1. Build a rapport with the person.  Similar to children, there is a confidence issue, so you need to make a connection first.  This creates trust and understanding from both parties.  A rapport can also reveal an undiagnosed reading disorder like dyslexia.
2. Contrary to what fiction says, do NOT start an adult with children’s books.  They may be easier and seem safer, but there is a humiliation factor.
3. Connected to the previous entries is that you need to build their confidence.  Praise as much as possible.
4. Reading aloud like we do with children can be another source of humiliation.  Use reading programs, which can create some privacy.

So, what do you think can be done to help with the literacy rates across the globe?  Do we teach reading incorrectly in some countries?