At Memphis Striving Readers, we are committed to fostering literacy in our community. We offer a variety of programs designed to support individuals and families in their reading journeys.
You can reach out to us in several ways:
- Tutoring: Our dedicated tutors are here to assist learners of all ages in improving their reading skills.
- Family Reading Nights: Join us for engaging events that promote reading and strengthen family bonds through shared stories.
- Volunteer Opportunities: We welcome volunteers who are passionate about literacy and want to make a difference in our community.
We are always ready to help you. For more information or to get involved, please contact us through our website or visit us at our local events. Together, we can make a positive impact on literacy in Memphis.
Reading About Health: Indoor Air, Lung Disease and Health Literacy
The title of this page refers to World COPD Day 2020, an awareness day that has already passed. Its theme still matters for families, because chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung condition that makes breathing harder over time. Smoking is the best-known cause. Health organisations also point to indoor air pollution, such as smoke from burning solid fuels for cooking or heating, poorly vented stoves, and long-term exposure to dust or fumes.
For a literacy program, the connection is health literacy. That means being able to find, understand and use health information. Medicine labels, appointment letters, inhaler instructions and air-quality alerts all assume a certain level of reading. When that reading is hard, people can miss warning signs or struggle to follow a care plan.
Practical reading skills that support healthier homes
- Reading product labels: Cleaning sprays, paints and pest products often carry ventilation warnings. Practising with real labels helps learners spot phrases like "use in a well-ventilated area."
- Understanding air-quality reports: Local forecasts use colour codes and terms that can be explained in plain language during tutoring sessions.
- Preparing for appointments: Writing down symptoms and questions beforehand, such as a lasting cough or shortness of breath, helps people talk with a doctor more confidently.
- Following written instructions: Step-by-step guides for inhalers or home equipment are good material for practising sequence words and careful reading.
Bringing health topics into family reading
Families can turn everyday health information into shared reading. Read a pamphlet aloud together, look up unfamiliar words, or talk about simple habits like opening windows while cooking and keeping homes smoke-free. Children often become eager messengers for these ideas. Adults gain practice with vocabulary they will meet again.
This page offers general information only. Anyone with breathing concerns should speak with a doctor or another qualified health professional. To find plain-language reading materials, browse our resources. To learn how tutoring sessions can include practical, real-world texts, see our programs.
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