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Family Literacy
What is Family Literacy?
The Family Literacy program will address the literacy needs of
all members of the family while promoting parents' involvement
in their children's education as the children's first teachers
and most powerful influence on their academic success. This
program will improve educational opportunities of eligible
families by integrating early childhood education and adult
education in a unified program. The program will also strive
to build on existing community resources, implementing and
maintaining local educational partnerships for family
learning.
Family Literacy programs seek to break the intergenerational
cycle of under-education and poverty by providing integrated
educational programs to:
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Improve parents' basic academic and literacy skills (adult
basic and literacy education)
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Support children's development and emergent literacy skills
(early childhood and elementary education)
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Increase parents' skills and knowledge about their rights and
responsibilities as their children's first teacher and
partners in their children's education (parent time, parent
involvement, parent and child together/PACT)
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Provide integrated literacy services focusing on family
educational needs
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Establish and maintain community collaborations that build on
existing resources
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Offer instruction that provides families with the tools and
support needed to become self-sufficient
"It makes sense to think of families as educational units.
Mothers' educational levels are a powerful predictor of
children's academic achievement. Parents' educational levels
are also strongly related to children's physical health and
persistence in school. When parents are involved in their
children's learning, the children do more and better in
school. Family literacy programs have the potential to benefit
children."
-Nancy Padak and Tim Rasinski, Research to Practice: Family
Literacy Programs: Getting Started
Four Components of Family Literacy:
Adult Education
You will set your own educational goal. Some examples of goals
would be improving reading skills to help your children,
obtaining your GED, or learning the English language. These
goals can be met through attending classes or working with a
tutor.
Early Childhood Education
Your children will be enrolled in a program that will give
them the experiences they need to become ready learners.
Students may be enrolled in various preschool programs, or be
attending elementary school. Your children will gain skills
needed to become young readers and lifelong learners.
Family Focus
As parents, you will join together to share common parenting
experiences. We will also have different speakers visit to
discuss several topics related to parenting issues.
Parents and Children Together
You will have the opportunity to visit your child's classroom
on a regular basis to participate in child-led activities. We
will provide you with educational activities for you and your
child to do together at your home. You will also have time to
speak with teachers and get ideas on how to continue similar
activities at home.
For more information regarding Family Literacy,
contact the Adult Literacy Center at 610.326.READ (7323) or e-mail
adultliteracy@givethegoal.org.
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