Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Fagan, is a Speech Pathologist. Liz has been an Honorary Member of Portland Rotary since 2004. Her presentation described the 30-Million-Word project, and how Rotarians support the important efforts for providing books to children and reading to them. We know that reading proficiency is encouraged by trained special education staffs in the schools. Yet, volunteers like the Rotarians, address reading with children who are without identified disabilities. Research has shown how the capacity for children to learn is correlated with their early exposure to books and reading during their first three years.
Dr. Fagan spoke and provided video information about the “30-Million-Word Gap” at every age in their childhood development. Cognitive development is not a function of “what we are born with.” Rather, a language-rich environment sets the stage for optimal brain development and improves how children perform in the world.
Portland Rotarians support literacy programs by reading to children in the city’s public schools and during a summer reading/lieracy program. Each child who attends the summer reading programs are given a book of their choice from the selection provided. These books are donated through funds contributed by Portland Rotary.
Studies have shown it has been determined that a 30-million-word gap exists between what children who live in poor families hear in their first years of life, compared to the same population of children who live with economically advantaged families. Donating books and reading to children are the way we can help to erode the gap.
Nevertheless, many thousands more books are needed for the world’s children. Our goal must be to give all children a book to hold in their hands. We can read aloud to children, sing songs, and recite rhymes, and encourage them to learn big works and talk about big ideas. What matters most is to talk with children and increase their learning opportunities. Language affirmation is a focus on teaching children about how the type of words they learn are important. Words like, “We are happy to see you.”
Every parent has the chance to improve their child’s cognitive development by exposing them to books and reading.
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(Photo L-R: Bob Martin, Dr. Liz Fagan, and President Don Zillman.)