Celebrating International Literacy Day with Grammarly

International Literacy Day was recognized this week. Literacy is a basic human need in my opinion. Being able to read, write and comprehend is crucial to nearly everything we do. Not knowing how to read will greatly diminish your quality of life in many ways. In our world, there are so many children who don’t have access to reading materials and don’t even have the chance to read. Their parents have likely never read, and sadly the cycle of non-readers is continuing at a rapid pace.

As a substitute teacher, I often times am helping students with assignments, teaching them concepts, and likely, encouraging them to read once they have down time in class. I’m one of “those teachers” who always asks, “Do you have a book with you?”. When a student once challenged me with the statement, “I don’t have to know how to read.”, I felt called to challenge that student back with all the reasons why we all need to be able to read. Reading is as natural to me as watching TV might be to someone else. If I had the choice, I would always choose to read….always. Most of us take for granted that we have the privilege and  freedom to read whatever and whenever (mostly) we want. No one questions what we are reading or forces us to read certain books (well, expect your teachers). Being able to escape into a book is one of life’s pleasures. But basic reading is necessary to daily living. Reading a text on your phone, reading the storm warning coming across the TV screen, reading the back of a box of pasta so you know how to cook it, reading the instructions to fixing your car, or reading a menu at a restaurant are all things we could read on a daily basis. I challenge you to go through a day without reading SOMETHING. I bet you can’t do it. Words are everywhere.

As as blogger who can’t imagine not having a book in my hand, let alone, in my home, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share this post with you thanks to Grammarly.

Grammarly has put together this awesome graphic in honor of International Literacy Day. Please check it out. Thanks to Grammarly, $10 is being donated in my name to First Book, because I truly believe every child should have their own book. Thanks to Grammarly for supporting this wonderful organization.

Grammarly offers some awesome services for teachers, students, parents, and writers of all kinds. I love using their grammar and plagiarism checkers. Check out their site, HERE.