A new study that came out recently found that children who do not read at grade level by 3rd grade are much less likely to graduate from high school.
A student who can’t read on grade level by 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently by that time. Add poverty to the mix, and a student is 13 times less likely to graduate on time than his or her proficient, wealthier peer.
ARGGGGH! Thirteen times less likely to graduate?! Okay, now I really do feel like I’m pushing a boulder up a hill. My school is full of children in poverty, and filled with kids who don’t or didn’t read at grade level by 3rd grade.
I could get depressed, but I am trying to turn over a new leaf and not let stress — and other people’s problems — get me down. Instead, I will continue to focus on catching ’em early, and sending them off to kindergarten ready to read.
Elbows, knees, dreams 
It is overwhelming to contemplate the odds against what we are trying to do. Yup yup, keep your shoulder on the boulder ‘cuz it will slip backwards if you don’t!