Literacy Tidbit Bites Creating Partnerships

Components of Family Literacy 1.Parents as 1 st Teacher—Training for parents on how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children. 2.Age appropriate education approaches that prepare children for success in school and life experiences. 3.Interactive Literacy activities between parents and their children 4.Parent literacy training that leads to self-sufficiency and financial literacy. Head Start Act Requires—Family literacy services be of sufficient intensity and duration to make sustainable changes.

Parents as 1 st Teacher—Training for parents on how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children.

Why is it so important for parents and staff to work in partnership?

What Research Says Children whose parents are involved in activities at school and home are better prepared for school. (Fantuzzo, et al.,2000) When parents and teachers worked on proven strategies children made significant progress in developing expressive language. (Whitehurst, el al., 1994)

Starting Early Has Long Term Benefits Learning gains in language and literacy skill development lasted longer and were more effective when parent involvement began at an early age. (Christenson, Round, & Franklin, 1992; HELP, 2008)

We Come from Different Places Families and programs may have: – Different backgrounds – Families may have had previous negative experiences In education When working with others – Differing needs

Differing Expectations Families bring expectations for – Education – Child’s Future Program brings – Staff’s personal values and education – Curriculum – Regulations – Systemic expectations (Fialka,2001)

Head Start Culture Includes its own: – Language – Code of Conduct – Set of Expectations – Belief System This may be new to some families.

As Families…… What do you want your children to learn in the program?

As Head Start Staff…… What do you want to teach the children in your program/classroom?

Families Are Their Children’s First Teachers One teacher introduces herself as child’s “New teacher”. Remind herself and parents that: – The family is always the first teacher. – She and others that follow her will always be the new teacher.

Families Teach Their Children Values How to communicate with others How to show respect for others How to thrive within the community What families teach their children becomes the “fund of knowledge” that every child brings to school.

Teacher’s Role Teachers/Home Visitors should: – Appreciate the cultural and cognitive resources of each family – Use these resources to help a child build on past experiences (Delpit, 1995, McCaleb, 1998)

Partnering Mean Families and Professionals Respect and appreciate each others’ efforts toward children’s success Recognize educational system may have different priorities Commit to working together to best benefit the child.

Partnering Poster Activity Why to share with families – What you are doing with the children – What they can do at home What are you currently working on with the children in your classroom?

Activity Instructions Work in groups – Create a “Partnering Poster” to … Share what you are working on in the classroom Ways families can do the same at home. Handout: Partnering pages as Sample 15 Minutes– then share your work.

Share Back Each group share your poster As you are listening, use Handout: Partnering Pages to note good ideas. When everyone has shared we will have a little time to wander to each poster and write down even more ideas.

Open House As a group visit each poster. – Start with the one to your left. – Take time to write and/or draw ideas from the posters. As you wander, think of even more ways you can share what you are doing with families. How can you implement this into your classroom?