Family literacy involves family-centered approaches to fostering literacy among family members, with ongoing dialogues and shared learning activities. Children experience active parental engagement and mutual learning is at the heart of most programs. Oral storytelling, imaginative playgroups, and shared reading are some techniques used. The skills and techniques acquired can be documented in a family journal, becoming important family artifacts.
The term family literacy refers to a set of loosely related, family-centered approaches to fostering literacy among family members. Learning activities that benefit readers at every level of education or development are shared, and ongoing dialogues that develop help shape and motivate family learning. In family literacy programs, children experience and are inspired by active parental engagement. Parents are taught about the many ways in which literacy learning occurs and are encouraged to work with their family members to design a program that meets the unique needs and interests of all involved.
Family Literacy deepens speaking, reading, and comprehension skills by offering problem-solving approaches such as considering context when faced with an unfamiliar word, or remembering words with similar prefixes, suffixes, or roots. While family literacy projects involve the active participation of parents in developing their children’s literacy learning, it is important to note that this participation is reciprocal. Children are also involved in their parents’ learning processes.
Mutual learning is at the heart of most of these programs. Children learn a lesson that will be useful to them throughout their lives; there are as many ways to learn as there are students. Similarly, parents learn from their children that there is no right way to learn. Applying a set of skills or discarding those that don’t work in a particular situation are all acceptable means to an end.
These approaches have been used successfully in households with non-native English speakers, as well as those where there is a real need for a solid foundation in basic reading skills. The bond that develops between family learners of all ages, from the youngest readers to grandparents, spills over into other areas of their lives. The goal of reading fluency only becomes truly important when it is relevant to students’ individual lives; sharing their motivations, frustrations, and excitement during the learning process creates not only an intellectual but an emotional connection.
Opportunities to enhance family literacy programs include oral storytelling, story writing, and shared reading. Other approaches include imaginative playgroups in which children and adults take turns directing play using oral cues. Another technique involves independent reading periods, following which readers of all ages share their thoughts on the material they have just read.
Some families who have participated in literacy programs use the skills and techniques they have acquired to document past learning in a family journal or journal. In turn, these documents help motivate and shape future learning, which is also documented. These written pieces can become deeply important family artifacts, treasured over time as younger students become adults and start their own families.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
