Effective literacy help is available

Did you know that nearly 20 percent of Horry County’s children and adults have reading difficulties? They are in need of an alternative way to learn how to decode, as compared to the other 80 percent who have no problem reading at grade level.

The Horry Council Literacy Council has spent hours during the last few years researching and implementing a program to meet the needs of clients with learning difficulties. At this point, the group has had a 95 percent success rate when a client is matched with a well-trained volunteer who is committed to the program.

As a former executive director of the Scotland County Literacy Council in North Carolina for

14 years and most recently executive director of the Horry County Literacy Council in South Carolina for 5 years, I am proud to be associated with an organization in my community that helps individuals learn how to read or improve reading, writing and spelling skills.

On May 26, Gov. Haley and the General Assembly approved the following, as stated in H5024, Section 1:

“Before the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, the State Department of Education shall provide training to all literacy coaches and literacy teachers in kindergarten through grade three on: (1) dyslexia and related reading disorders … (2) the use of evidence-based screening tools for dyslexia … (3) evidence-based, multisensory, instructional methods and interventions designed specifically for students with dyslexia and other reading disorders.”

Those requirements are all areas the Literacy Council has endorsed for the past five years through the Barton Reading & Spelling System. The council has Barton trainers and knowledgeable tutors willing to help in this effort to improve literacy for all in Horry County.

Please email literacyhc@gmail.com for more information.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Effective literacy help is available."