Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this in-depth episode of Come to Think of It, host Steve Nemerovski speaks with writer and literacy educator Larissa Phillips about the growing crisis of adult illiteracy in the United States and the failures of modern reading instruction.
Phillips, a columnist for The Free Press and founder of the Volunteer Literacy Project, discusses research-based approaches to teaching adults with dyslexia, the legacy of whole-word and whole-language reading methods, and why nearly 20% of American adults read below a functional level.
The conversation explores literacy as a predictor of economic mobility, generational disadvantage, education policy failures, and the role of parents, schools, and community volunteers in restoring effective reading instruction.
An essential discussion for educators, policymakers, literacy advocates, and anyone concerned about the future of American education.
Change Your Mind. Watch GrassRoots.
GrassRoots programming is made possible by the producers' creativity itself, direct contributions from viewers, members of the Roaring Fork Valley community, and through grants from the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund, The Town of Snowmass Village, the City of Aspen Community Non-Profit Grant Program, and The Aspen Thrift Shop.
Founded by citizens of Aspen, Colorado in 1972, GrassRoots TV is the first and oldest community operated and programmed open-source media center and television station in the United States. Virtually all of the programming is created by local residents, occasionally with world renown guests.
In partnership with the American Archive of Public Media and the Library of Congress, GrassRoots is currently cataloguing, restoring and digitally archiving 700 of the most at-risk original video programs out of its 45,000 title Community Video Archive.
Help sustain this community treasure by donating now! Go to:
bit.ly/GRTVContribute
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, HIT LIKE and leave a COMMENT to let us know if you enjoyed this video, it is important to us and the community for you to become part of the conversation. Thanks for tuning in!
Download the GrassRoots Community Network iOS and Android apps
Subscribe for more videos: bit.ly/2Ycpi4P
Facebook: facebook.com/GrassRootsCommunityNetwork
Twitter: twitter.com/grassrootstv
Web: grassrootstv.org
In this in-depth episode of Come to Think of It, host Steve Nemerovski speaks with writer and literacy educator Larissa Phillips about the growing crisis of adult illiteracy in the United States and the failures of modern reading instruction.
Phillips, a columnist for The Free Press and founder of the Volunteer Literacy Project, discusses research-based approaches to teaching adults with dyslexia, the legacy of whole-word and whole-language reading methods, and why nearly 20% of American adults read below a functional level.
The conversation explores literacy as a predictor of economic mobility, generational disadvantage, education policy failures, and the role of parents, schools, and community volunteers in restoring effective reading instruction.
An essential discussion for educators, policymakers, literacy advocates, and anyone concerned about the future of American education.
Change Your Mind. Watch GrassRoots.
GrassRoots programming is made possible by the producers' creativity itself, direct contributions from viewers, members of the Roaring Fork Valley community, and through grants from the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund, The Town of Snowmass Village, the City of Aspen Community Non-Profit Grant Program, and The Aspen Thrift Shop.
Founded by citizens of Aspen, Colorado in 1972, GrassRoots TV is the first and oldest community operated and programmed open-source media center and television station in the United States. Virtually all of the programming is created by local residents, occasionally with world renown guests.
In partnership with the American Archive of Public Media and the Library of Congress, GrassRoots is currently cataloguing, restoring and digitally archiving 700 of the most at-risk original video programs out of its 45,000 title Community Video Archive.
Help sustain this community treasure by donating now! Go to:
bit.ly/GRTVContribute
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, HIT LIKE and leave a COMMENT to let us know if you enjoyed this video, it is important to us and the community for you to become part of the conversation. Thanks for tuning in!
Download the GrassRoots Community Network iOS and Android apps
Subscribe for more videos: bit.ly/2Ycpi4P
Facebook: facebook.com/GrassRootsCommunityNetwork
Twitter: twitter.com/grassrootstv
Web: grassrootstv.org
