First Educator
Growing up, the library was my home; books were my refuge and strength. I traveled the world through books. I visited the Serengeti National Park, walked along the Great Wall, and enjoyed the beautiful beaches of Sierra Leone. This was an amazing adventure for a young girl, especially since my daily life did not expand beyond the mile radius of my Rondo neighborhood.
Reading unleashed the power of my imagination while helping me see the world’s beauty and connect with my cultural heritage. This experience began at my local Saint Paul Public Library.
I could not wait for my weekly library visit with my mother. We would leave with totes of books on cooking, crafts and gardening. Summer months were our favorite. I could also visit the bookmobile in addition to my weekly library visits. This meant double the reading fun.
Later in my life, I traveled to all of the places that I imagined through my book expeditions. The books I read early on connected me with diverse cultures, languages and experiences. I also read about career pathways. I read about traveling through space as an astronaut like Mae C. Jemison and leading change like Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.
This inspired me as a first-generation student to attend college and achieve my dream of becoming a lawyer. My love for books also motivated me to become an author. I have written several leadership books and over 30 children’s books.
Each day, I share the gift that my mother gave me by inspiring the next generation to discover the joy of reading. My goal is to open up those windows of infinite possibilities for them to see the world, imagine their future careers, and discover the leader within.
This is an opportunity to turn the education data around. Imagine a future where every Black child in Minnesota reads at grade level, instead of nearly two out of every three children struggling with reading. What type of communities will we create? What type of society will we create? The possibilities will be endless.
A call to action
This new column, First Educator, will serve as a community resource to share information and knowledge about the importance of reading and learning. I chose the name First Educator to serve as a call to action for all caring adults to support our children as they learn, grow and lead.
“First Educator” refers to the fundamental primary role that parents and caregivers play in a person’s early development and education. They instill essential life skills, morals and behaviors.
The role of the First Educator is often overlooked and undervalued. When in discussion with parents and community members, many believe learning happens only at school and that learning outcomes are the responsibility of teachers.
This is an opportunity to extend an invitation to serve as the First Educator for children in our community. It is the recognition that learning opportunities abound in our daily lives at home and in the community. Here are three key tips for success as a First Educator:
Set aside time to read
Reading should be a daily routine. Research shows a one-million-word gap for children with a daily reading routine when compared to those without. “Young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to,” according to a new study from Ohio State University.
Make a commitment today to read to children in your community circle. With each book read, you are helping to increase the child’s vocabulary and reading comprehension.
Create a comfortable reading environment
Make it a family affair to build your home library. You can start with a small space and add a bookshelf. Decorate it with inspiring quotes like, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door to freedom.” (Dr. George Washington Carver)
Join a book or reading club
Connect with other readers and their families at your local library or bookstore. You can participate in storytime events and author readings. At Planting People Growing Justice, we are building intergenerational reading circles for children, parents and community.
We chose this approach to foster a culture of reading in our Rondo community. We host a monthly Leaders are Readers program where we feature an author read aloud and provide learning activities for the entire family.
Dr. Artika Tyner is a passionate educator, award-winning author, civil rights attorney, sought-after speaker, and advocate for justice. She is the founder of the Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute.
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