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A Proposal to Implement Family Literacy Centers

in Underserved Communities

by Dr. Edward Green,

Manager, Family Literacy Centers, inc.

FLC, Inc. helps communities establish Family Literacy Centers by offering easy-to-use materials and methods.  We also offer follow-up training to directors and center workers, a donation of startup reading and training materials, and help with internet record-keeping support.  Our main goals are to 1) focus on internalizing literacy in the family context; 2) emphasize parental involvement and commitment in helping identify children who need help in reading; 3) encourage those who can read to read more, (Mark Twain once said: "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."); 4) utilize the natural volunteers of the home — parents, grandparents, and siblings; 5) explain effective and easy-to-use assessment measures; and 6) use community resources as a means to help families establish the home as a true learning center.

Overview of the Instructional Materials

Used in the FLC, Inc. Program

by Dr. Edward Green,

Manager, Family Literacy Centers, inc.

Teaching Values through Reading

with Intermediate Readers — Part IV

by Dr. Edward  E. Green

Improving Writing Skills with

Intermediate Readers — Part III

by Dr. Edward  E. Green

Improving Reading Skills for

Intermediate Readers — Part II

by Dr. Edward  E. Green

Home Help for Intermediate

Readers — Part I -

Article 9 in a Series to Parents

Teaching Values to Small School Children Through Reading-

Article 8 in a Series to Parents

by Dr. Edward  E. Green

Helping Small School Children with Reading and Writing Activities-

Article 6 in a Series to Parents

by Dr. Edward  E. Green

General Manager of Family Literacy Centers, Inc.

When people talk about increasing literacy, their real goal is to help others learn to love to read - fluently, frequently, and intelligently.  One article in this series presented a few ideas on ways to teach reading skills. These skills are very important, and start the reading process.

To help children read well, it’s necessary to make reading and writing relevant to their lives. They must understand that these activities are useful and interesting - skills they will need every day of their lives. Many activities work well. Here is a sampling - then you can use your own creativity:

 (1) Much of our daily reading takes the form of instructions. You might purchase a model toy for your child to assemble. Then read the instructions together as you build it.

(2) Cooking is a fun and useful activity. Go through a recipe book and choose a recipe to prepare for the family.

(3) Help your child make her own telephone book. Buy or make a small note pad where the names and numbers of important friends and relatives can be written. You don’t always have to find time for meaningful reading and writing activities. Take advantage of the moment. For example, when you are writing “to do” lists or other lists, have your child join you.

DAD: I’m making a list of the things we’ll

need on our camping trip. Let’s try not forget

anything important this year. What do I have

on the list so far?

CHILD: Tent. Tent pegs. Sleeping bags.

And don’t forget matches.

DAD: Oh, right. Good thinking! Will you

make a note of that?

Take your children shopping with you and ask for help reading labels or choosing food items. Write notes where your child will find them. You can ask for a reply.  Writing and reading go hand in hand, and children who write are better readers. Children like to write - especially if there is a variety of paper and other materials on hand. If you can afford it, get plain and colored paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors and glue, chalk - whatever you think would work. Help children make their own story books. For younger children let them dictate to you. Older children can write most of the words with your help. Encourage them to illustrate their story. Then sew or staple the book together and have them read it to you and other members of the family.

Family histories are fun too. If you have photos of a family trip or activity, have your child write about it and paste the photos in their proper places. When children say something nice about a relative or friend, help them write a short letter expressing those feelings. You’ll be able to think of more activities like these that will tie in with your child’s interests. They enable a beginning reader to understand that reading is a useful and interesting part of everyday life. The most important thing parents can do is help their children get a great deal of experience actually reading books. The more time they spend reading, the better at it they will get. Studies show that the most competent readers read 144 times as much as the least capable. Try to make reading fun, and make sure it happens. Set aside the time and make special places for reading. Some parents buy bed lights for their children, and allow them to stay up 15 minutes later than usual if they are reading in bed. Consider offering a simple privilege or rewards for books read or time spent reading. You don’t have to insist on quality reading either. What’s important at this point is that children read - at least 15 minutes a day. So let them read anything they want to - within reason, of course. Comic books are fine. Or childrens’ magazines. Books of their choice. And at this beginning stage it doesn’t matter if they’ve read the book dozens of times before. Some children respond to reading charts with small rewards. Do whatever works for your child to increase reading time.

This article suggests just a few of the reading and writing activities that can hook children on reading. For many more ideas, visit a Family Literacy Center near you. It provides many activities that you and your child can do together on the computer. This article has placed the emphasis on making reading enjoyable - and so it should be.