09/05/2025
It came across my feed from KayElle Han post. We just discussed this at our first parent teacher conference. One of my whys….
69% of 4TH GRADERS are reading BELOW grade level. Let me say that again 🗣️ SIXTY. NINE. PERCENT. That means the MAJORITY of kids who are supposed to be “learning to read” are already slipping through the cracks. And while this is happening… what’s the conversation on here? Yall worried about why your kids cant wear certain clothes, sprayground bookbags, why bookbags have to be clear, school feels like a “prison”
Y’all… THE KIDS CAN’T READ.
Reading is not just about decoding words in a book. If your child can’t read, they can’t comprehend a word problem in math. They can’t follow directions in science. They can’t apply for a job one day. That’s called functional illiteracy, where you can technically read a word but you don’t understand or can’t apply it. And we are raising a generation that’s about to struggle HARD because adults are not paying attention.
It’s not just the school’s responsibility. Yall can’t keep blaming teachers for everything when yall send the kids back every year with ZERO at-home reinforcement. Are you reading with them at night? Are you practicing PHONICS & sight words? Are you checking comprehension instead of just “did you finish the worksheet”? Yall even cry about having homework 🙃
And then yall wonder why middle and high schoolers act out, shut down, or feel “school isn’t for them” because if you can’t read by 3rd to 4th grade, you’re already behind in EVERY subject. That’s where the behavior problems, the frustration, the “my child don’t like school” starts.
This isn’t a game. Literacy is freedom. If a child can’t read, the world controls them. That’s not a future I want for my child or yours.
So imma say it: Forget the fashion shows. Forget the viral videos. Forget worrying if your kid got the “flyest” bookbag. If 69% of 4th graders can’t read, THE PRIORITY should be fixing that because if we don’t, this generation is going to be grown, broke, and controlled… all because nobody cared enough to make sure they could READ!