Family LiteracyWhat 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 children’s first teachers• Learning occurs outside of traditional school settings

• Learning is a life long process• Adults are a powerful influence on children’s school

success

Family LiteracyWhat does the Research Say about

Children?• Children’s achievement in school and their general

knowledge improves • Children attend school more regularly and are more likely

to complete their education• Children’s oral language development accelerates as

reading aloud to children is the most effective practice for enhancing language and literacy development

• Children’s reading vocabulary, comprehension, writing, phonemic awareness and decoding ability improve

• Children are healthier • ESL children and their parents learn English • Children’s motivation to read increases

Family LiteracyWhat 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

Family LiteracyWhat 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

Family LiteracyWhat does this this this topic have to do with

our school?

Family LiteracyHow can we develop an action plan for implementing this concept at our school?