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We’re celebrating another successful school year of parent education/involvement programs in PVUSD. Congratulations to 28 parents from the Even Start Program at Freedom Elementary School who were recognized this week for completing the the Latino Family Literacy Project (LFLP) series.
The program was developed by Los Angeles teacher Katherine Del Monte as part of her research to identify effective reading programs for non-English speaking students. The project is co-sponsored by the Extended Learning Department Family Literacy Grant, Federal & State Programs and Watsonville/Aptos Adult Education. This 13 week series focuses on the importance of establishing a family reading routine, parents modeling effective reading techniques for their children and creating an over all “love” of reading. The sessions also provide opportunities for the natural development of parent leadership skills.
Sessions are centered on eight to nine (8-9) different books that are bilingual and culturally relevant to the Latino family life experience. Each theme sparks lively and profoundly meaningful discussions among the participants. Families quickly begin to build connections with one another as they come to realize how much they have in common with each other and that they all share one goal: that of supporting their children academically. The books are gifted to participating families at each session with the request to regularly share the books (as modeled and suggested at the sessions) in a family setting at home. Each participant is also assigned weekly art projects that incorporate reading and creative writing relevant to the book theme. These assignments culminate into a Family Album which parents often share becomes their family’s favorite “book”. The majority of participants have also shared that before this project there was little or no reading going on in the home.
LFLP facilitators, Teresa Rodriguez and Ruby Vasquez, agree that the Project accomplishes its objective and much, much more. “We are aware that we work with a very diverse parent population; everyone is at a different level in their literacy development and this is taken into consideration in all the material we have prepared for each session.” states Ruby Vasquez. Each session uses visuals and art, is interactive and significant to the reality of our Latino immigrant families’ lives. Teresa shares, “It’s great to see so many different skills emerge in each parent. We’ve witnessed very quite, timid moms find their voice and share their many life experiences as they relate to the book themes and their children’s educational experience. Parents learn how to get beyond the basic comprehension questions and begin to ask questions that require critical thinking skills as they discuss the books in class and with their families.”
Even Start program coordinator Mike Perez, has offered the project series to his Freedom families for the last two years and plans on continuing to do so in the future. “We understand the importance of developing good reading habits at an early age and the impact this program has on the student’s future academic success. Imagine an environment where children choose to read rather than play video games or watch TV. This is what we’re striving for.”
This is just one of the many parent involvement/educational programs offered to district parents. To date, approximately 800 parents have participated in a one of the many parent education offerings taking place primarily offered at six elementary school sites through the State 21st Century After-School Family Literacy Grant.
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f you would like more information about The Latino Family Literacy Project, please call 786-2100, Teresa Rodriguez, extension 300, or Ruby Vasquez, extension 250 or go to the following website: The Latino Family Literacy Project
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