What is Family Literacy?
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The family literacy approach harnesses the strength of parent-child bonds to help those who are most at risk of failing economically, emotionally and socially. We build a student's success by strengthening their confidence, increasing their ability and broadening their outlook.
According to Amaro-Jiminez & Semingson (2011), educators must draw upon students' background knowledge and experiences to enhance learning. Knowing about each student's funds of knowledge will help us to connect the classroom curriculum in meaningful ways. Visiting a student's community and home can provide teachers with a wealth of information which may not be available otherwise, such as information about their daily lives, their family dynamics, and the ways in which learning opportunities are provided in the household.
In order to supplement the classroom curriculum, teachers must listen to parents' needs about school and literacy learning. By making the effort to contact parents and families and learn more about their lives, educators can collaborate with parents as partners, and not as empty vessels to be filled.
According to Amaro-Jiminez & Semingson (2011), educators must draw upon students' background knowledge and experiences to enhance learning. Knowing about each student's funds of knowledge will help us to connect the classroom curriculum in meaningful ways. Visiting a student's community and home can provide teachers with a wealth of information which may not be available otherwise, such as information about their daily lives, their family dynamics, and the ways in which learning opportunities are provided in the household.
In order to supplement the classroom curriculum, teachers must listen to parents' needs about school and literacy learning. By making the effort to contact parents and families and learn more about their lives, educators can collaborate with parents as partners, and not as empty vessels to be filled.
Why is it Critical to Literacy?
Why should parents become involved in their children’s literacy activities?The evidence about the benefits of parents being involved in their children’s education in general, and their children’s literacy activities in particular, is overwhelming. Research shows that parental involvement in their children’s learning positively affects the child’s performance at school (Fan & Chen, 2001) in both primary and secondary schools (Feinstein & Symons, 1999), leading to higher academic achievement, greater cognitive competence, greater problem-solving skills, greater school enjoyment, better school attendance and fewer behavioral problems at school (Melhuish, Sylva, Sammons et al., 2001).
From Clark (2007) http://www.britishcouncil.org/parental_involvement_in_reading.pdf
- Parental involvement in their child’s literacy practices is a more powerful force than other family background variables, such as social class, family size and level of parental education.
- Although parental involvement has the greatest effect in the early years, its importance to children’s educational and literacy outcomes continues into the teenage and even adult years.
- Involvement with reading activities at home has significant positive influences not only on reading achievement, language comprehension and expressive language skills (Gest, Freeman, Domitrovich & Welsh, 2004), but also on pupils’ interest in reading, attitudes towards reading and attentiveness in the classroom (Rowe, 1991).
From Clark (2007) http://www.britishcouncil.org/parental_involvement_in_reading.pdf
How can I support my student's literacy learning?
Some great suggestions from the Connecticut State Department of Learning:
Here is a parent brochure for English Language Learners in both English and Spanish:
- Read daily! Set aside 30 minutes each day for reading before turning on electronic games or television.
- Encourage your child to read for pleasure by building on his/her interests.
- Give books as presents, so books become special and pleasurable.
- Suggest your child read different types of fiction, such as plays and poetry.
- Encourage your child to read for information. Reading editorials, autobiographies,reviews, and manuals will give your teen practice with nonfiction
- Ask your child to read aloud with the appropriate rate and expression to younger siblings.
- Help your child learn to question what is read and heard. Not everything is true or accurate. Having conversations about sources of information will help your child understand an author's bias and if a source is reliable.
- Show your child you never stop learning and building vocabulary.Find new words in reading. Use new words in writing.
- Help your child discover his/her creativity by keeping a journal, writing stories, or poetry.
- Encourage seeking different points of view and multiple sources of information to support writing.
- Help your child share writing.Teens can send an editorial to the newspaper,enter a writing contest, or post a book review on-line.
- Make writing a part of your family's everyday life.Tasks as simple as making shopping lists, writing thank-you notes, or posting messages on a blog reinforce literacy skills.
- Promote reading about your family's heritage and culture.
- Make sure your child as a library card, and uses it!
- Let your child see YOU read and write.
- Speak, write, and read in your native language as well as English. (see the below attachment)
Here is a parent brochure for English Language Learners in both English and Spanish:
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l1_parent_guide.pdf | |
File Size: | 574 kb |
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l1_parent_guide_spanish.pdf | |
File Size: | 633 kb |
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WEB Resources
Funds of Knowledge- an eye opening, must read article by Amaro-Jimenez and Semingson
Multiple Intelligences- Howard Garner website
Multiple Intelligences- Graphic Representation for Primary
Multiple intelligences- Advanced Graphic
Multiple Intelligence-Alternate Graphic
Story/Literary Elements for ELL Students and Early Learners
Reading Rockets- webpage for families
Reading Rockets- In Spanish
Colorin Colorado- Reading website in Spanish and English
Reading to, With and By Kids
Multiple Intelligences- Howard Garner website
Multiple Intelligences- Graphic Representation for Primary
Multiple intelligences- Advanced Graphic
Multiple Intelligence-Alternate Graphic
Story/Literary Elements for ELL Students and Early Learners
Reading Rockets- webpage for families
Reading Rockets- In Spanish
Colorin Colorado- Reading website in Spanish and English
Reading to, With and By Kids
Community Resources
Libraries:
Bellingham Public Library
Central Library
210 Central Avenue
CS-9710
Bellingham, WA 98227-9719
360-778-7323
Barkley Branch
3111 Newmarket St.
Suite 103
Bellingham, WA 98226
360-778-7290
Fairhaven Branch
1117 12th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-778-7188
Museums:
Bellingham International Maritime Museum
800 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham
360-592-4112
Bellingham Railway Museum
1320 Commercial Avenue, Bellingham
360-393-7540
Mindport Exhibits
210 W Holly Street, Bellingham
360-647-5614
Spark Museum of Electrical Invention
1312 Bay Street, Bellingham
360-738-3886
Whatcom Museum
121 Prospect Street, Bellingham
360-778-8977
YMCAs:
Whatcom Family YMCA
Bellingham Activity Center
1256 N. State St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
360 733 8630
Ferndale Activity Center
5610 Barrett Rd.
Ferndale, WA 98248
360 380 4911
Lynden Activity Center
100 Drayton Street
Lynden, WA 98264
360 354 5000
Other Community Resources:
Whatcom Center for Early Learning
Northwest Head Start
http://www.nwcaa.org/
220 Unity St, Ste 102
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-734-8396, ext 153
Fax: 360-671-5096
Opportunity Council
http://www.oppco.org/
1111 Cornwall Ave. Suite C
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 734-5121
(800) 649-5121
Admin Fax (360) 671-0541
Whatcom Hispanic Organization
http://whatcomhispanic.org/contactus.html
360-840-7896
[email protected]