Right to Read

When a child can’t read on grade level, they don’t just fall behind academically. They start to shut down, act out, avoid, and/or disengage. And too often, instead of asking “what skill is this child missing?” — we ask “what’s wrong with this child’s behavior?”

Educator Hilderbrand Pelzer III — who runs one of the largest correctional education programs in the U.S. — puts it plainly: too often we see kids struggle early, focus only on the behavior, and fast-track them to special ed or discipline instead of addressing the reading gap underneath it.

The research backs this up hard. Academic failure, reading failure, and the juvenile justice pipeline are documented as deeply connected — this is a pattern.

So what’s the fix? It starts in Tier 1: Strong core reading instruction, early identification, data-driven support, and teachers equipped with the Science of Reading- not just behavior charts.

This is why literacy work IS justice work. This is why what happens in a 1st grade reading group can change whether a kid ends up in a courtroom fifteen years later.

This is the “why” behind everything we do at Right To Read.

We’ve had a busy summer!

This season has been full of growth, celebration, and exciting new beginnings.

•Moved into our new Houston office
•Hosted our RTR Team Dinner
•Celebrated a successful Mahjong & Martinis fundraiser
•Wrapped up our third annual Read It, Make It, Take It Literacy Workshop
•Welcomed new team members

As we head into a new school year, one thing remains the same: our commitment to providing evidence-based literacy support for students, families, educators, and our community.

Here’s to another year of building and growing.

What an amazing Mahjong & Martini afternoon!

To everyone who attended, donated, and sponsored — thank you! Because of you, we’ve raised over $19,000 to support a dedicated reading instructor for our students at Harmony School of Endeavor in Houston, and we are SO close to our $20K goal!

Every tile shuffled, every martini poured, every dollar given is helping these students get the literacy support that is their right. Reading changes everything — and because of this community, more students will have someone in their corner helping them get there.

We’re just a few gifts away from closing this gap. Will you help us cross the finish line?

Link in bio to support ✨🀄️🍸

&Martinis

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners for making Mahjong & Martinis possible.

Your generosity and belief in our mission are helping expand access to evidence-based reading support for children and families across Houston, and we are truly grateful to have you as part of the Right To Read community.

This Fourth of July, let's celebrate the many stories that make up America.
Books have the power to help children see themselves, understand others, and appreciate the diverse cultures, traditions, and experiences that shape our communities.

As you gather with family and friends this holiday weekend, consider adding a picture book to the celebration and spark meaningful conversations about belonging, identity, and what it means to be part of our shared story.

And while you're making plans for the summer, don't forget to grab your tickets for Mahjong & Martinis! Every ticket purchased helps us bring literacy support to students in Houston's under-resourced communities and move one step closer to ensuring every child becomes a capable and confident reader.

Tickets available at www.therighttoread.org/events

“This is my favorite class.”

It’s the kind of moment every educator hopes for—the moment you realize a student feels safe, confident, seen, and supported despite the challenges they face.

This is our why.

Moments like this don’t happen by accident. They happen because a dedicated reading instructor is in the room, ready to meet each student exactly where they are and help them discover what they’re capable of.

Our Mahjong & Martinis fundraiser will help us grow that impact.

More reading instructors means more small groups. More individualized support. More “favorite classes.” More children who leave believing they can read, learn, and succeed.

Because when a child gains confidence as a reader, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom. It changes futures, strengthens families, and creates opportunities that can last for generations.

Every ticket purchased helps us hire our next reading instructor and bring these life-changing moments to more students across Houston.

Invest in the children counting on us. Purchase your ticket or table through the link in our bio.

Meet the woman behind the mission. 👇🏾

Tenesha Jedkins Smith, licensed dyslexia therapist, certified academic language therapist, and Founder & Executive Director of Right To Read. With 20 years in education, she’s watched a pattern repeat itself over and over again.

In 2020, the world shut down. And as headlines flooded in about COVID widening an already devastating reading gap — a gap that was already swallowing a certain demographic of children whole — Tenesha couldn’t look away. She’d been watching this crisis up close for years. The pandemic didn’t create the problem. It just made it impossible for everyone else to ignore.

So she built Right To Read. Because children from under-resourced communities — the ones who needed the most support — were the least likely to get it. Not because they weren’t smart. Not because they weren’t trying. But because the system was never designed with them in mind.

When a child can’t read, they don’t just fall behind academically. They act out. They shut down. They get labeled “behavior problems” when what they actually have is an unmet reading need. Frustration looks a lot like defiance when you’re 7 years old and no one has taught you how words work.

And that classroom struggle doesn’t stay in the classroom. It follows them into middle school, into high school, and into a system that is far too quick to push them out — and into another one that is far too ready to receive them. The school-to-prison pipeline is, in no small part, an illiteracy pipeline.

This cycle doesn’t stop with one child. It moves through families and through generations until someone intervenes.

Right To Read exists to be that intervention.

Houston Families!!!

READ IT. MAKE IT. TAKE IT. 2026 is officially open for registration with TWO SPOTS LEFT. 🎉☀️

One week of hands-on literacy activities, crafts, writing, and games in a small-group setting designed to send your rising Kinder-2nd grade reader into the new school year feeling ready and confident. Every child takes home five high-quality picture books — theirs to keep.

Dates: July 27–31, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Memorial Church of Christ | Houston
Cost: $385 (5 picture books included)

Intentional by design, our small workshop environment means more hands-on learning, more individualized attention, and every reader met exactly where they are.

“My kids learned so much but had fun while doing it. They wanted to go to the workshop every day.” — 2025 RMT Parent

Spaces are limited. Reserve your child’s spot by visiting https://www.therighttoread.org/summer-literacy-workshop.

Today is the day—and we’re officially SOLD OUT! ⛳️✨

A heartfelt thank you to our Swing Fore Literacy underwriter, Synergy Home Care of Lincoln, for their support and belief in this work.

Their commitment to helping close literacy gaps in Omaha reflects the kind of community partnership that makes lasting impact possible. Because of supporters like Synergy Home Care, we’re able to continue expanding access to high-quality literacy support for the students and families who need it most.

We’re so excited to gather today with a community that shows up, gives back, and believes in the Right To Read mission.

OmahaCommunity RightToRead