‘Knowledge Is In the Books’: Brian Jordan launches reading challenge in Newton County

COVINGTON, Ga. — Elementary college students throughout Newton County had a particular customer this previous week. 

Former Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons star Brian Jordan spoke at six Newton County elementary faculties to assist launch the Brian Jordan Basis (BJF) Studying Problem. That is a part of Jordan’s relationship with the Newton County College System. 

The problem is to assist encourage college students to enhance upon their studying expertise. Jordan referenced his personal struggles with studying throughout his childhood to assist gasoline the initiative. 

Early on, Jordan used his finger as a information to assist him learn. However, with extra confidence and apply, that was now not the case. 

“It’s superb to see [the kids’] faces once I inform them I needed to go one phrase at a time again and again till that finger bought sooner earlier than I actually gained confidence,” Jordan mentioned. 

On Monday, Jordan visited Dwell Oak, Porterdale and Heard-Mixon elementary faculties, and two days later he spoke to college students at West Newton, Livingston and Center Ridge, too. 

He’s coming again after the brand new yr as properly to go to the remaining elementary faculties within the county. 

On every go to, Jordan shares the story of his personal studying struggles as a technique to encourage every baby to persevere and regularly work at their very own studying expertise. He additionally reads one of many 4 youngsters’s books he’s written: “I Informed You I Can Play,” “Overcoming the Worry of the Baseball,” “Time-Out For Bullies” and “The Adventures of Champ Jr.” 

He’s within the technique of ending his fifth ebook, too. 

The problem will run from December 2022 to February 2023. And there’s a reward for every class that exhibits essentially the most enchancment. 

Probably the most improved college students will get to play a recreation of kickball with Jordan whose teammates will probably be academics from every faculty. 

Jordan believes the larger reward is the long-term advantages every pupil can have by growing a ardour for studying at an early age. 

“I need the children to know that I really like sports activities, however sports activities might be taken away with one hit or one damage,” Jordan mentioned. “However having an schooling is one thing that may by no means be taken away. And the data is within the books.” 

In actual fact, throughout the Q&A portion of Jordan’s visits, he usually will get  requested what his finest day of his profession is. His response shocks most college students. 

“For me to go in as a man who performed two skilled sports activities and clarify to them that wasn’t my happiest day,” Jordan mentioned. “My happiest day was graduating from the College of Richmond and getting my faculty diploma.” 

Jordan launched his studying problem in August 2019 by means of a partnership with Douglas County’s faculty system. Since then, he’s gone to Clayton County and Richmond County to assist unfold the notice. 

In response to Jordan, the response has been “phenomenal.” 

“The youngsters learn far more books in a yr than the faculties have ever seen,” Jordan mentioned. “So, the problem works. And [NCSS] is already seeing the outcomes with simply the [first round] of visits to the faculties.” 

Now, he’s stopped in Newton County to assist unfold his message of constructing confidence amongst youth of their studying. 

The Jordan-NCSS partnership started when the previous 15-year MLB veteran met NCSS’ Elementary Curriculum & Instruction Coordinator Karen Dozier at a convention in Savannah just a few months again. 

Jordan’s long run goal, although, is to maintain the problem going. 

“I need to develop and get to as many colleges as I may even outdoors the state of Georgia,” Jordan mentioned. “I need to blow this studying problem up everywhere in the world.”  

Within the preliminary problem launch with Douglas County, Jordan took college students on area journeys to locations like Chick-Fil-A headquarters and the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. And, whereas the COVID-19 pandemic took that away, he goals to return that to the problem by getting extra sponsorships. 

“I need to get extra sponsorships concerned so these youngsters can get some experiences in life that they’ve in all probability by no means had,” Jordan mentioned. 

One other wishlist merchandise Jordan has is for extra present and former athletes, in addition to celebrities, to become involved.

“I’ve an organization and I need to have an expert author hear to those tales and make them into youngsters’s books,” Jordan mentioned. “In order that it’s these athletes who go to the faculties and share a few of their tales with the children. This technology of athletes as we speak, if they might share their tales and encourage these youngsters, it may make a world of distinction.” 

Going round and visiting numerous faculties and areas brings a number of pleasure for Jordan. However it’s the grins on the scholars’ faces after they understand they’ve the same wrestle with a former skilled athlete that really energizes him.

On every go to, Jordan kicks off the dialogue by asking the query, “Who lacks confidence in studying?” The scholars’ response is awe-inspiring for Jordan. 

And he believes that, by the top of the varsity yr, there’ll be fewer palms raised when requested the identical query. 

“There are such a lot of youngsters like me on the market, and to see their palms go up once I ask them that query,” Jordan mentioned. “It simply exhibits me that they need the assistance.We’ll have a enjoyable yr attempting to get them to enhance their studying by providing them contests and difficult them to be higher. 

“It’s a relentless work of creating positive that these youngsters know that Brian Jordan is coming again to their faculty,” Jordan mentioned. “They’re not going to see me only one time passing by means of like most individuals do.”