The PennZone

MADISON, N.J. - PennZone -- You don't have to be a genius to make a difference — but a few people known for their brainpower are helping more kids learn to read.

Northern New Jersey Mensa, part of the national high-IQ organization known for bringing bright minds together, has launched a free online library of proven literacy resources for parents and teachers across the country. One of Mensa's founding goals is to use intelligence for the betterment of humanity — and this project puts that idea into practice.

The materials, now available on the group's website, are designed to help children master the fundamentals of reading through clear, phonics-based instruction.

"First, you must learn to read. After that, you can read to learn," said Laurie Endicott Thomas, a member of the Northern New Jersey Mensa local chapter. "We are sharing these free resources to make it as easy as possible for parents, teachers, and tutors to teach children — and adults! — to read."

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The online collection revives classic tools that have helped generations of students learn to read. Titles such as Blend Phonics by Hazel Loring and Noah Webster's Spelling Book focus on decoding the written word step by step — a skill that builds true reading comprehension instead of simple word memorization. A featured chapter from David Mulroy's The War Against Grammar reminds readers that understanding language structure is just as essential to literacy as sounding out letters. Together, the materials form a clear path from learning the alphabet to reading with confidence.

To spread the word locally, volunteers printed business cards with QR codes linking directly to the literacy site and distributed them at community events, from street fairs to school board meetings.

October marks American Mensa's 65th anniversary, a fitting time to celebrate the organization's long-standing commitment to learning and service. Through national efforts such as the Mensa Foundation's Excellence in Reading program, Mensa encourages children and families to read together — aloud, in groups, or solo — to build comprehension, confidence, and a lifelong love of books.

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Throughout October, American Mensa is also offering discounted admission testing — 10% off Private Testing and 50% off local testing events — as part of its annual Membership Month celebration. Learn more at us.mensa.org/testing.

By helping more children learn to read, members hope to make Mensa's mission personal — one word at a time. Free literacy materials are available at nnjmensa.org/reading.

American Mensa is an organization open to anyone who scores in the top 2 percent on an accepted standardized intelligence test. Mensa has about 45,000 U.S. members and more than 140,000 members globally.