Teach Them To Tell!

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As a writer, an editor, an educator and a changemaker, I can think of nothing more important that teaching children to read and write. To tell stories. Stories of the magic and wonder within themselves. Stories of the trials and tribulations in their world - to look for solutions, to create change. Teach them to tell stories - so that we may understand their lives. Teach them to tell their dreams - so that we may help them achieve them. Teach them to tell us what we don't know - ... more

As a writer, an editor, an educator and a changemaker, I can think of nothing more important that teaching children to read and write. To tell stories. Stories of the magic and wonder within themselves. Stories of the trials and tribulations in their world - to look for solutions, to create change. Teach them to tell stories - so that we may understand their lives. Teach them to tell their dreams - so that we may help them achieve them. Teach them to tell us what we don't know - so that we may learn to live and work together. Teach them to tell us what they need - so that we may help them meet their own needs. Language - written and spoken - is the only way we really have to understand each other, learn from each other, shape the future we all want to share. Too many children are graduating from school unable to read and write. When you can't read and write, you can't work, you can't learn, and you can't be part of the functioning society - much less part of the positive future. But thanks to innovative programs like DonorsChoose, we have the power to step in and fund projects that directly impact children in the classroom - and as such, in their futures. With the click of a mouse, you can fund innovative teachers in their inspirational projects to give children the opportunities available only to those with an education. THIS is what the web is supposed to do. This illustrates perfectly how individuals can solve problems by coming together around the causes that unite them, and not wait for someone else’s solution. I can think of no greater problem - or opportunity - than the state of public education in America today. I would like to be part of the solution, and I would like you to join me. The fact that individual donors like you and me can help level the playing field and provide otherwise missing opportunities to public school classrooms by using something as simple as DonorsChoose.org inspires me. I hope it inspires you too. To learn more about my history as a writing teacher in the public schools in Saint Louis, you can read articles here (please do!)<a href = 'http://justcauseit.com/articles/writing-wrong '>http://justcauseit.com/articles/writing-wrong </a> hide