Dr. Lisa R. Hassler

America's Embarrassing Reading Crisis:
What We Learned from Covid

May 20th 2022

More than 80 percent of students who fail to earn a high school diploma were struggling readers in third grade.

     We all want our children to learn and thrive. We want them to achieve measurable success–and live up to the vast potential inside each of them. But in order to do that, we must tackle the biggest problem facing America today: reading. Without proper reading skills, our workforce is less robust, job opportunities are more limited and people's lives are held hostage as their own self-worth becomes diminished.

     Yet, the pandemic brought forth valuable lessons. The global crisis shed light on another, lesser known, pandemic already in play for children across America. At first, parents, teachers, and other educators grappled with online teaching. Then, however, came profound lessons about teaching reading to young students–and the success that followed–because of virtual education.

     America's Embarrassing Reading Crisis: WHAT WE LEARNED FROM COVID is a reality check on an issue we have long been avoiding. Now, there are no more excuses; it’s time to take action. This book blends the pre-covid methods and theory placed within classrooms and homes and blends them into strategies that work in today’s environment. Author and accomplished educator Lisa Richardson Hassler dives into her own struggles and triumphs as a mother and teacher to provide solutions to parents, teachers, and educational leaders in order to set our students up for successful futures.

     The key to raising successful children is setting the stage for being a successful adult. Hassler is not only sounding the alarm with this book some educators are calling "a must-read for modern classrooms," she's offering a framework by which to ensure young readers are reading on grade level starting today.