Hello, everyone. Let’s talk about literacy—particularly with kids who have severe or even moderate reading difficulties. If things don’t seem to be working, it’s helpful to first understand what “working” looks like when it comes to reading and writing. What is the expected level of literacy, and how do things function when they are working?
At its core, literacy begins with association. We have language-processing parts of our brain that have evolved to handle sounds, gestures, and stories. For a long time, language was purely spoken or gestured. It wasn’t until we started writing down important stories, lessons, skills, discoveries, and traditions that we created a way to preserve and transmit information over time. Writing allowed for a consistent version of a story or idea, one that wasn’t dependent on the storyteller’s memory, interpretation, or personal biases. It gave us the ability to share ideas and preserve culture in a way that wasn’t limited to oral transmission.
This shift to written language didn’t happen evenly across the world, and many languages that once existed have disappeared. What remains, though, is the ability to represent language through symbols: letters, numbers, and other visual elements. Written language is incredibly valuable because it allows us to communicate across time and space—connecting us with ideas, stories, and teachings from the past, from people who may be long gone. It’s how we can read the thoughts of great thinkers, artists, and leaders from history.
That said, not everyone has relied on reading and writing to succeed. Henry Ford, for example, was a hugely influential figure but had difficulty with the written word. Many great leaders and thinkers have relied more on oral communication, memory, and other cognitive strengths rather than formal literacy. But still, literacy is a system—a recipe with ingredients that can be combined in infinite ways to create meaning and tell complex, beautiful stories. It’s like a code, with rules and patterns, that allows us to unlock deeper understanding and contribute to the great conversations of human history.
If you want to connect with this world of ideas and knowledge, reading and writing are the keys. They provide a way to express yourself, to understand others, and to access information that can shape your life. When reading, speaking, writing, and listening all work together, they enhance clarity and understanding. It’s easier to communicate clearly when you can read and write as well as speak and listen, and when all of these skills are in sync, they reduce confusion and increase shared understanding.
But remember, literacy doesn’t need to be perfect right away. Start with small steps—making new associations between letters and sounds, understanding rules and symbols, and learning how to decode and encode language. The more you practice, the closer you’ll get to mastering these skills. And don’t be discouraged if it takes time. Every small step matters.
Think of reading and writing like the instructions for a game, or a recipe passed down from a loved one. The symbols and words on the page aren’t just arbitrary—they represent real ideas, feelings, and experiences that we can share with others. Once you have these tools, you can participate in the world’s conversations, express your thoughts, and share your ideas with people near and far. And the best part is that you don’t always have to explain things one at a time—by writing, you can communicate with many people at once.
So that’s the perspective I hope you’ll take on reading and writing. It’s about more than just decoding words—it’s about connecting to the world, sharing your ideas, and understanding others. Everyone is rooting for you to succeed in this journey. Keep going, step by step.