Intro:
Broadcasting live from the Business Radio studios in Detroit, Michigan. It's time for Detroit Business Radio. Now, here's your host.
The Mag
Lee Canter here, another episode of Detroit Business Radio. And today's episode is brought to you in part by activate your great consulting agency. I'm Lee Cantor, and today's guest is Shelley McIntosh, and she is with child-focused consulting company. Welcome, Shelley. Thank you. Well, I'm excited to learn what you're up to tell us about child focus consulting company, how you serve folks.
Shelley McIntosh:
Okay, well, Child Focused consulting company really started in 2005. In Texas, where I resided at the time, even though Detroit is my home city. But it previously started out with providing professional development for teachers, because at that time, I was a professor at the University of Houston downtown in the teacher education program. And that was the initial purpose. But now we have branched off into providing literacy intervention, and schools, because there is a literacy crisis, which we can talk about a little later. But child focus is focused on literacy, and being able to provide the reading skills that children need.
The Mag
So now how did kind of literacy become your passion and the focus of your career, like what drew you to literacy as a cause?
Shelley McIntosh:
First, I've been a principal also in my journey, my professional journey. And I recognize that the children were not up to literacy standards. And the basic problem was reading foundational skills. And so I asked myself, How did I learn to read, and I began to do some research on how reading is taught in America. One article that really inspired me was the one written by Ed Reardon, he wrote it in educational leadership and 2013. And he stated that if the reading gap cannot be closed, then the children of today will be unable to take care of themselves as adults, because now reading is correlated with income. And that even sparked me more. And so I traveled back in time to review and research how reading was taught, and discovered that reading instruction really changed, and the late 70s. And that's because a whole language philosophy was adopted. And just briefly, the whole language approach is that children learn to read naturally, and that they can read by just memorizing whole words. But the latest neuroscience research has stated that that's a flawed premise. So in order to provide this literacy, I believed that we were also providing a quality of life for children. So that was my passion.
The Mag
Now, was this something that we were always struggling with as a country and a culture that that it was difficult to teach people to read? And then we had to fix it in the 70s. And we tried this new approach or were we making progress, but it wasn't good enough. So we decided to change kind of the way we do it. Like, how did how are we doing before the 70s? Were literacy rates the same or worse? Like, I don't understand why we shifted gears in the 70s. And if it's not working, why do we continue doing it that way?
Shelley McIntosh:
Right. So in the late 70s, there was not so much of a reading gap between African American children and Caucasian children and the reading literacy rate was higher among all people. So there are two camps in the field of education. One is phonics and one is whole language. So it is basically a philosophical position. And so the whole language advocates, because they were adults, thought that they learned to read by memorizing whole words, and did not understand that the brain has to go through some specific, major readjustments to transmit an all spoken language that's represented and a symbolic language due to alphabets, that that has to be done explicitly. And so the camps, phonics and oral language were at odds in the late 70s. The state of California adopted whole language. As we know, there is, in every state, there is a Department of Education. But California is one of the largest purchasers of textbooks, then Texas adopted the whole language approach. And they they are the second largest purchaser of textbooks. So this flaw premise, passed through teacher education programs. As I said, Before I was a professor. And I saw how the whole language approach was implemented and integrated into the text and into teaching potential teachers how to teach reading. So it seems to be not only a flawed premise, but also a profit making premise, because everything was changed in terms of textbooks for teachers, workbooks for children, reading materials for children, so many children fell through the cracks in their in these past 30 or 40 years. And that type of approach to reading, the whole language approach was not effective. So now, in fact, it failed children.
The Mag
So now you're going into these same places, and then kind of teaching them the more traditional phonics approach of reading and literacy.
Shelley McIntosh:
Yes. And even teaching that it has to be done at a certain method or process. So I use the direct instruction model that was created by Dr. Sigfrid Engelmann. And in the late 70s, because again, there was this question, these children can't read. And he said, Well, I can teach them to read. And so we use the direct instruction model, which addresses basic reading foundational skills. So to make it clear, we learn language, naturally, we don't even have to have a class as infants, all we need is someone speaking the language. And hardwired within our little infant systems, we count the number of sounds that we hear in that language. And before the parents know that we are speaking that specific language. So with the alphabets, which represent the sounds of language, those have to be taught explicitly. So reading foundational skills began with phonemic awareness, being able to hear the sounds of language, and then moving to phonics, equating that sound with a letter.
The Mag
And then when you do it this way, you find that the child can learn get better results in less time.
Shelley McIntosh:
Yes, I've taught children to read before kindergarten. And that's why this literacy crisis bothers me deeply. Because years ago, and running a nursery program, we use the direct instruction model. That program then was called this star. We taught children between the ages of two and a half to four years old. And by the time they enter kindergarten, they could read. I've also used it with a one on one tutoring. One of my clients was in a third grade going into the fourth. And his mother told him that he would never be able to read. So he better be good in sports. And my daughter said, my mother can teach him. And so I use the direct instruction model. And within a year and a half, he was on grade level as tested by the school. So this has been one of the most effective ways and efficient ways of teaching children to read.
The Mag
So now with your company, you're going out into school systems, or individual schools are your teaching parents like who is the client of your service?
Shelley McIntosh:
Okay, the client is the school itself. So So far we have been in charter schools in Detroit, Michigan. And what we do is a contract with the school. And I have six in my company, we have retired teachers who are certified. And they're all trained in a direct instruction model. So we test students, we place them on the level where they where they need the skills. And then we provide the intervention services. At this point, we do twice a week, in small groups virtually. The other part is I developed an online class during the pandemic, because there were certain entities who wanted me to do professional development, but the pandemic stopped that. So I created an online class called the course of action to literacy. And this is devised to teach any adult, whether a teacher, a parent, someone who works with a community organization, or a church ministry, if they want to teach reading, this online course of literacy, will help them to do that. So they will be successful and instructing children to read.
The Mag
And then do they become kind of that certified? Instructor after going through that program? Or is this something kind of, like extracurricular for that parent or this group to kind of do on their own, if there aren't resources around them that can help them.
Shelley McIntosh:
Yes, they receive a certificate, I am a direct instruction trainer. And so after completing the seven module lesson, then they do receive a certificate of completion.
The Mag
So now, so do you think it's possible for a parent just if they don't have resources to go through this class and then teach their children to read so that the child would have a headstart, maybe going into kindergarten or into public school?
Shelley McIntosh:
Yes, exactly. And as I said before, the resources and the training, they would be in a great position to use it, so that children can have some basic reading foundational skills before they enter kindergarten.
The Mag
Well, this must be so rewarding for you to do this kind of work and knowing the kind of impact that you're having on individuals and parents in their communities from to give a child that kind of Headstart and the ability to read, these aren't kind of nice to have skills, these are must have skills, and the sooner they get them, the whole world opens up to them. So congratulations on your work. And thank you so much for taking on this cause it's so important. And it's silly, that we're in a situation where if there's a better method that we're we're kind of not choosing the better method for kind of the status quo. So that's
Shelley McIntosh:
exactly, exactly choosing the better method. And so what comes into play is philosophies, power, and profit. But there is an answer to that. If we focused on the benefit of the child, what will benefit him or her? What is it that they need? How can I teach them what they will learn? That focus, to me, provides actions that would help the student and you are absolutely correct. I've gone into classrooms, and I've seen fourth graders who could not read. So the teacher puts a textbook in front of them or a workbook, they can't read it. And so I've seen their psychological behaviors, some of them will withdraw and just become quiet and sad. Others will become defined with the teacher and others will just act out because they are in a place with materials in front of them, yet they cannot master that. So children do it. act out in different ways when that happens. And reading is foundational to everything that we do. So it is my passion. And also, there is great joy when children master it. And we know that we're not only providing these reading skills for now, but we are providing a quality of life and makes a big difference.
The Mag
Absolutely. And there was a time in history when just the general public didn't have access to information and knowledge. But we're living in a time where that is available to everybody on the internet, if they can read. So if you can't read, you're just kind of shutting yourself out on, you know, kind of all of the information that exists in the world that now everybody has access to if they have an internet connection and can read, so we have to be doing a better job, and getting people up to speed with reading as fast as possible. Because that's where the opportunity lies, that's where he quality lies. That's where freedom lies.
Shelley McIntosh:
Absolutely. You know, just yesterday, I had to upgrade my TV. But I had to read to do that. And even with putting in a fire stick requires reading. And if students are adults, too, because in Detroit, 50% of the adults are functionally illiterate. And that is a direct result of how teaching how reading was taught. They don't have that access, just as you say it, they don't have that opportunity to explore and investigate the world. They don't have that opportunity to solve problems to solve technical problems, or even to fill out an application. Because I went to one business owner, and I mentioned the literacy crisis. He said it is very real, because I was trying to recruit young people to work, but they couldn't even fill out the application. So it is a crisis. And the faster we address it with the most effective teaching, then we can help resolve this. I would say that over all within the nation. There are a lot of people that are functionally illiterate. So according to data, of 50% of Caucasian students score proficient, as tested by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 20% of African Americans score proficient, and 34% of Hispanic children scored proficient. But looking at it overall, over 50% of the children across the board, are not reading proficiently.
The Mag
Yeah, that's not good enough, and it's going to hurt our country, because then people aren't going to know how to find and discern information about what's true and what's not true. What's a fact what's an opinion, all of this stuff is all tied together. So to have an educated kind of citizenship is table stakes. In society nowadays, you have to be educated. And in order to be educated, you have to read and there's the information is all out there, we just have to be better at getting people up to speed and reading as quickly as possible. That sounds like you're really kind of holding the mantle to this and really shining a light on this problem. And I commend you, and I thank you for taking on this crisis.
Shelley McIntosh:
Thank you very much for that. When I heard or read the article, I began to do forums, because I say appearance and communities need to know that there is a resolution. Some parents, again, will say my child will never be able to read and that's not true. So it's disheartening. So I had forms at the Northwest Community Center, and also at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. And I just not just but I was motivated to do that, to hold these forms to organize them. And to let parents and community members know that there is a resolution. And as you said, this being able to read opens our eyes to freedom, it opens our eyes to inequalities and history. It opens our eyes to wise men and women who made things change and happen. So again, literacy is foundational.
The Mag
Now, in your career, you've written several books on taken on this challenge. You're doing these forums, and you started this company to kind of help in this area. What can we be doing for you? What do you need more of right now and how can we help you kind of further the cause?
Shelley McIntosh:
Well, for one, the answer is information about what's happening with literacy. That is one point, or one focus because people need to be educated as to the history of reading instruction, and that there are resolutions based on the latest neuroscience research. And also they can contact me via my website, Shelley mcintosh.com, where they can engage in, reading my blogs, and also investigating or reviewing the books that I have written, which for the most part, focus on leadership as a principal and literacy. I want to backtrack on the books that I've written, the latest two are called principles to the first edition is life in 31 days. And the second one which was released on Valentine's Day of this year, is the principles tell a self-determined later. And both of those books go into detail of what it takes to be a principal. And in the latest one is spaced about the literacy crisis and illiteracy dilemma, and what I did as a principal to try to curtail that. So in terms of helping, I would invite those to visit the website, to also purchase the books of principals tail to get an idea of what principals can do, and do differently in schools to help children. At this point, I am in the process of enrolling those who are interested in a summer course, for the course of action to literacy, which starts in June, and all that can be visited on my website.
The Mag
And then they have access to that online course you were mentioning earlier as well, on the website.
Shelley McIntosh:
Yes, with shelleymacintosh.com/courses, they will be able to see a webinar, which is free of video, which is free on the literacy crisis. And on that same page, there is an opportunity to enroll in the course of action to literacy.
The Mag
Well, Shelley thank you so much for sharing your story today. Again, the website is shelleymcintosh.com. That's sh e ll e y MC intosh.com. Shelley, you're doing such important work. And we really appreciate you. Thank you again, for sharing your story today.
Shelley McIntosh:
Thank you. And thank you for giving me this opportunity. I really appreciate it.
The Mag
Well, you're giving us the gift of your work. And you should be very proud of what you're doing. It's a hard job. And I appreciate you for taking this on. It's so important. It's like you said it's foundational. We have to get kids reading sooner, faster, and more efficiently. We're we pride ourselves on saying we follow science. And there's a science that says Shelley's right, and we should be supporting this effort.
Shelley McIntosh:
Absolutely. Thank you. And just for closing remarks. There was an article that came out in Detroit News maybe a couple of years ago, and it was entitled Why are we still teaching reading the wrong way? Yeah, and, and they, about 100 educators were in an interview. They just didn't want to change their position. But who suffer are the children that's who suffer. And when we can change our mindset. And again, focus on the benefit of the child, then that can also change our actions.
The Mag
All right, well, thank you again, Shelley, for sharing your story. And for anybody out there that has a child that cares about children, go to shelleymcintosh.com and learn what you can do to help children read faster and at a younger age. This is Lee Canter. We'll see y'all next time on Detroit Business Radio.
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