In the event that I read “J is for Jollof Rice” at readings/events, it is always interesting to hear the words kids yell out for each letter. In “J is for Jollof Rice,” B is for Bo Waterside, a border city where market women in Liberia sell goods. 

-WM

(via otherstuffmykidloves)

Compared to other countries, America has a high literacy rate. The CIA World Factbook defines literacy as the number of Americans age 15 and older who can read and write. According to The World Factbook, 99 percent of the American population is literate.

However, there are many levels to literacy. Besides competency in reading and writing, there is also financial and nutritional literacy. Yet, as corroborated by the number of Americans who are in debt and who are overweight and obese, financial literacy and nutritional literacy are low. Nutritional literacy is crucial, especially for children and teens, since that population is becoming increasingly overweight and obese at younger ages. 

(Source: aplaceforart, via aplaceforart)

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Check out the latest One Moore Book Storytime video: “Kukujumuku.” Enjoy!! 

Visit www.dropeverythingandread.com for D.E.A.R. tips and activities.

This past Saturday I had the privilege to speak to a group of young women at a NYURO workshop.NYU: Reaching Out (NYURO), is a program targeted towards inner-city high school girl grades 10-12. Their mission reads: “Our program seeks to expose such students to higher education, issues of social justice and to empower them to become strong, college-bound young women. The program consists of monthly workshops—past workshop topics include “Identity,” “Researching Our College Option”  and “Writing the Personal Statement.”“

The founders of this wonderful initiative invited me to speak to the group for their “Identity” workshop. I was asked to give my life story and to share the different milestones along the way that have shaped my identity. The session ended up being more therapeutic than anything, because what accompanied my embarrassing anecdotes about boy craziness and businesses gone wrong, was the realization of how far I had come. I found peace in knowing that through the struggles, I am just where I should be.

~WM

Student Melvin O. B. Coleman of the Child Development Academy (CDA) triumphed over 45 contestants to win the title of 2012 National Spelling Bee Champion, Lofa County. Contestants were chosen from the fifteen counties, with three students representing each county.

sabisierraleone:

School Children in Bo.

(via beauty365)