One woman revealed that her shame at not being able to read led to her hiding the books of her children in the back part of her wardrobe so she could avoid reading before bed.
Shaftesbury mother-of-three Sarah Todd said Tuesday to Woman’s Hour that going to the library was a “living nightmare” and how she finally sought help when her literacy level dropped during an interview for returning to work.
Todd told the BBC Radio 4 programme that her two eldest daughters, who are twins, didn’t know that she couldn’t read.
It was difficult for her as she was the only parent, and it broke her heart to no longer be able tell their children nursery rhymes or stories.
It’s thought that nearly 7 million adults in the UK have limited literary skills. Later this month, The Repair Shop star Jay Blades will star in a new documentary, Learning To Read At 51, about his own struggles with reading.
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Sarah Todd of Shaftesbury said to Woman’s Hour, that she would conceal copies of Cinderella from her children.
Jay Blades, The Repair Shop’s star, will appear in a documentary later this month about his journey to learn how to read at 51.
A mother of three says that while experiences were enjoyable for many parents, such as visits to the local library, they were “a living nightmare” for her.
She was unable to stand a job interview and decided to contact Read Easy, an adult literacy charity.
Appearing on yesterday’s broadcast, Todd told host Chloe Tilley said that she stopped trying to ‘vocalise the fact I’d fallen so far behind’ with reading at school and would just play the ‘cheeky, sarcastic kid’ to hid her illiteracy.
Todd explained that it was hard to have children, then become a single parent because of the amount of paperwork required for raising young children.
After mounting bills, her family threatened to sue the bailiffs.
However, having her twins was her first step in realizing that she required help learning how to read.
Todd was emotional when he said that he felt like he had been broken. You sit down with your children and read to them. Then you go and take them to the library. That was my nightmare.
When her five-year-old daughters reached the age of 5, Todd attended a meeting to discuss going back to work. She broke down when she admitted that she could not read.
She told the Radio 4 programme that the reality of how difficult life can be without reading skills hit when she became a mum to twins and fell behind on household bills
The show’s host Chloe Tilley discussed how nearly 7 million adults in the UK have limited literary skills
It was clear she didn’t expect a snooty reply. However, ReadEasy gave her the number and she, despite six unsuccessful attempts, says that she is now a ‘never-look back’.
Todd claims that her books, including classics such as Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, were found by Todd when she moved into her new home four years ago.
Jay Blades (star of BBC One’s The Repair Shop) will talk about his journey to learn how to read at 51.
This presenter was taught how to read by children last summer, using the same strategies as kids like phonics.
Jay left school with no qualifications and has dyslexia. He was only 31 when he was diagnosed.
Candid: Jay Blades has revealed he cried when he was finally able to read his daughter’s letters to him after he learned to read for the first time aged 51
Speaking to The Sun about being able to read a letter from his daughter for the first time, Jay recalled how he was brought to tears when he received the note from Zola, 14, who lives in Turkey with his ex-wife Jade, and was able to read it.
This TV star was bullied at school because of his race. A teacher once said that he wouldn’t “amount to anything”.
Jay was learning to read alongside a tutor from ReadEasy. Jay had hoped that he could fit in at least two sessions per week. But filming made it difficult.
Lisa, the furniture restorer who was engaged to Lisa at Christmas Eve, read his first book to Zola.
Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51 will air on BBC One, January 26, 2009 at 9pm.