Family Literacy

1
Family Literacy

• What is Family Literacy?
• Family Literacy Programs are designed to
  demonstrate the importance of reading at a basic
  level.
• Programs may include adult literacy learning and
  / or may encourage families to model literacy
  techniques in their everyday lives.
• Basic Assumptions of family literacy programs
• Parents are childrens first teachers
• Learning occurs outside of traditional school
  settings
• Learning is a life long process
• Adults are a powerful influence on childrens
  school success

2
Family Literacy

• What does the Research Say about Children?
• Childrens achievement in school and their
  general knowledge improves
• Children attend school more regularly and are
  more likely to complete their education
• Childrens oral language development
  accelerates as reading aloud to children is the
  most effective practice for enhancing language
  and literacy development
• Childrens reading vocabulary, comprehension,
  writing, phonemic awareness and decoding ability
  improve
• Children are healthier
• ESL children and their parents learn English
• Childrens motivation to read increases

3
Family Literacy

• What does the Research Say about Parents?
• Parents persist in family literacy programs
  longer than in other types of adult literacy
  programs. Those who persist have more opportunity
  to learn
• Parents attitudes about education improve the
  value they perceive in education increases
• Parents reading achievement increases both
  native speakers and ESL
• Parents knowledge about parenting options and
  child development increases Parents social
  awareness and self-advocacy increases
• Parents enhance their employment status or job
  satisfaction

4
Family Literacy

• What does the Research Say about Families?
• Families learn to value education
• Families become more involved in schools. Family
  involvement in schools leads to better
  achievement for children
• Families become emotionally closer, which creates
  a more supportive home environment
• Families read more and engage in more literate
  behaviors at home
• Families build foundations for lifelong learning

5
Family Literacy

• What does this this this topic have to do with
  our school?

6
Family Literacy

• How can we develop an action plan for
  implementing this concept at our school?