BlogAThon - Children

California Reading List (CRL)

Is based on a child's score on the California English-Language Arts Standards Test, a specific list has been designated as appropriate for him or her in terms of reading difficulty and interest level.

There are 13 different lists titles: starting with 01 to 13+.

Each list is made up of a collection of titles that are slightly more difficult to read than the titles on the list before it. List #01 has the most easy-to-read titles, while List #13+ is made up of the most difficult or sophisticated titles.

The list numbers DO NOT correspond to grade levels.

Might also want to look at Lexile

It has a Database of thousands of titles with Lexile measures: 200L for beginning-reader material to above 1700L for advanced text.
You can search by Lexile measure and it has a Lexile Analyzer –free but limited use- to calculate reading ability or text difficulty.
Also has a ‘Lexile BookBag’ for parents.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Links

A new(ish) literacy website:

The National Commission on Adult Literacy is an independent panel of leaders from labor, business, government, education, literacy, and philanthropy. Its aim, to focus attention on the great cause and need for adult education and literacy services in America.

Site includes:

Publications, Inspirational Essays and Links to literacy reports & organizations.

~ Dare to Dream: A Collection of Papers. . .
~ Mounting Pressures Facing the U.S. Workforce . . .

~ Adult Literacy & the American Dream by Forrest P. Chisman

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Health

People over 65 who can’t read or understand basic health info –prescription bottles, appointment slips, or even their doctors, etc.- are more likely to die sooner than more literate seniors. "Inadequate health literacy is associated with less knowledge of chronic disease and worse self-management skills for patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma and heart failure," according to a study at Northwestern University.

From Scientific American: July 23, 2007

Confused older patients die sooner: study
By Ishani Ganguli

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Understanding doctors' orders can be a matter of life or death for senior citizens: those who had trouble comprehending their physicians died sooner than their more savvy peers, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Medicare clients who were confused by pill bottles or appointment slips were 52 percent more likely to die over the six years of the study, especially from heart disease.

"Patients with inadequate literacy know less about their diseases ... They are much more likely to be hospitalized," said Dr. David Baker of Northwestern University, who led the research.

"It's not just higher hospital rates. It's significantly higher mortality."

Baker and colleagues followed 3,260 Medicare patients 65 and older in four U.S. cities. To test the volunteers' so-called health literacy, which drops with age, they quizzed them on how well they understood prescription bottles, appointment slips and insurance forms. MORE

@ Your Local Library: CalCat - WorldCat

Sixty Things to do When You Turn Sixty: 60 experts on the subject of turning 60, edited by Ronnie Sellers Publisher Ronnie Sellers Productions, c2006.

~ first essay: Be a grouch / Garrison Keillor

The 100-year Lifestyle by Eric Plasker

Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, c2007.

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Learners

Literacy Card Aims to Prevent Awkward Moment -July 19, 2007

An initiative to help save embarrassment if people have difficulty reading or writing was announced this week, the Southland Times reported.


Businessman Stephen Winteringham has come up with a literacy card – which people who have difficulty reading or writing can use to explain their situation when in a bank or a shop or other situations where they may need more time to fill in forms or deal with information.


What a good idea ! Or Not ?

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Video

Reading Inspires Children

Blogathon 2007

BlogAThon - Video

A Terrific Literacy Video !

BlogAThon - Library

Need a read? Get books from own library, Michigan court says
Detroit Free Press
Freep.com: July 26, 2007 by David Eggert

LANSING - Residents not living in a community have no constitutional right to borrow books from its library, a divided Michigan Supreme Court ruled today.

The court voted 4-3 to dismiss the lawsuit of George Goldstone, who sued after Oakland County's Bloomfield Township Public Library refused to sell him a nonresident library card. Goldstone lives in nearby Bloomfield Hills, which does not have a library.

The township's residency requirement is "a viable means of establishing and maintaining a local public library," Justice Stephen Markman wrote for the majority.

He was joined by Chief Justice Clifford Taylor, Maura Corrigan and Robert Young Jr.

The 1963 state constitution says libraries "shall be available" to all Michigan residents but also gives libraries the authority to create rules.

Writing for the dissent, Justice Michael Cavanagh said the constitution lets any Michigan citizen borrow books from any public library in the state.

"While the doors of Michigan libraries remain physically open, the majority tramples the intent of our people by misinterpreting the law to the severe disadvantage of those who wish to educate themselves," Cavanagh wrote. Justices Marilyn Kelly and Elizabeth Weaver also dissented.

Goldstone was denied a nonresident card in 2004 after talks had broken down over what the township's service contract could charge Bloomfield Hills for letting all of its nearly 4,000 residents check out books.

Check out the Comments to the article.

If you would like to comment:

Michigan Supreme Court

Hon. Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor
Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Hall of Justice
P.O. Box 30052
Lansing, MI

Apparently there is a history of some discord on the bench:

LawInfo
Michigan's high court descends into bickering; 'Almost like they're children'

The Associated Press
LANSING, Mich.

The notion of black-robed judges as symbols of decorum and civility seems almost laughable these days in Michigan.

Justices on the Michigan Supreme Court have fallen into sniping and name-calling and traded accusations of unprofessional conduct. One justice referred to another as a "very angry, sad woman" and suggested she go on a hunger strike for everyone else's benefit.

"It's almost like they're children, isn't it?" said Brian Einhorn, a Southfield lawyer who represents judges in disciplinary cases. He said he has been getting calls from lawyers in other states asking about the bad blood.

"It's embarrassing for all members of the bar," Einhorn said.

Blogathon 2007