Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i4HF27m02149; Mon, 17 May 2004 11:02:07 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 11:02:07 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3A57BC24E589CE46A607531C10953B0806B271@mail.mvcaa.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Debby Lawson" <lawsond@mvcaa.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1843] Re: Why family literacy? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 5697 Lines: 152 Jane, You are absolutely right in both respects. We certainly don't need to lose any more valuable people, what with the current environment. Thanks for clearing up my statement. Debby Lawson -----Original Message----- From: Jane Mencer [mailto:jmencer@famlit.org] Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 6:05 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1841] Re: Why family literacy? This is a minor correction to Debby Lawson's posting. In your statement, "This is the major reason that people have been so involved in the selection of a new director of NCFL, to help maintain the adult focus piece," I assume that you meant NIFL, not NCFL. Sharon Darling, head of NCFL, isn't going anywhere...we hope! :-) Jane Martel Mencer Instructional Designer National Center for Family Literacy 325 West Main Street, Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40202-4237 phone: 502/584-1133 ext 169 fax: 502/584-0172 e-mail: jmencer@famlit.org -----Original Message----- From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Debby Lawson Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 6:24 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1839] Re: Why family literacy? Colleen, I have to agree with you that there has been more focus on children and literacy recently. This is the major reason that people have been so involved in the selection of a new director of NCFL, to help maintain the adult focus piece. I have to say though, that I work in a Head Start program in mid-Missouri, as the Adult/Family Literacy Manager. In this position, I train our staff to do the one-to-one adult literacy tutoring and they are certified as such through ProLiteracy. This is a valuable piece of our Head Start Program and many parents attain the GED each year in addition to those whose goal is simply to improve reading, writing, and/or math. It is in the Head Start Performance Standards that all Head Start programs follow, that these issues be addressed and the parents provided the opportunity to improve their education. I know that Even Start programs must do this, but Head Start is involved with the entire family as well. Some programs simply make referrals to GED classes or other resources, but the point is that they make sure the families know about what is available and assist the families in utilizing those needed resources. Because the current administration has questioned the effectiveness of early literacy in Head Start, there has been more focus placed on early education and child outcomes. This doesn't mean that the family has lost importance to Head Start programs or staff. I am truly sorry this seems to be the image imparted recently. We strongly advocate for parents as the child's first and most important teacher, and as such, their literacy and confidence levels must be addressed. Thanks for letting me put in my two cents. Debby Lawson, Adult/Family Literacy Manager MVCAA Head Start -----Original Message----- From: Colleen Angaiak [mailto:c_angaiak@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 5:38 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1835] Re: Why family literacy? Andrea, I have to say one thing you mentioned is a pet peeve of mine: "Head Start has more impact with children" I really, really want to know why there has to be such complete focus on the children?? Don't get me wrong -- early childhood education and K-12 education are HIGHLY important to me, as an educator, as a parent, and as the child of two retired public school teachers and the spouse of a teacher. But to me, one of the huge benefits of a program such as Even Start is that we are not only educating children, but also adults who NEED that education. And in doing so, we are setting families up for more success on every level, educationally. Kids can have great outcomes in Head Start and preschool, and even be successful in school in the early years, only to hit the proverbial wall when they reach the point where their parents can no longer help them with schoolwork and learning due to low literacy skills. In the Adult Tutoring program in my agency, we have seen numerous families who actually move repeatedly in order for the parent to avoid detection of their lack of literacy skills by their child's school. What does this do to the children? They are bounced from school to school. They grow up with a negative image of family-school relationships. And in the long run, they see mom and/or dad functioning with low skills, which removes some motivation for continuing in school themselves. Even Start is here to help FAMILIES, not just children. Educating adults, both in literacy skills and in important parenting skills, from discipline and health issues to reading, writing, and being comfortable in the schools, is so very, VERY important. And that, in my opinion, is a big part of the value of family literacy. Colleen Angaiak Family Literacy Coodinator Literacy Council of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska AWilder106@aol.com wrote: Meta, You are such a good person to talk to, so here we are at family literacy. I know about learning to read at home, or being read aloud to, but I am baffled by family literacy programs. Are they funded separately from regular literacy programs? Are there measures of effectiveness? I know about Evenstart, but I have also read the latest evaluation, which as I recall when compared with Head Start...shows that Head Start has more impact with children. I know I am being vague....any answers as to effectiveness? Andrea __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Movies - Buy advance tickets for 'Shrek 2' http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/movie?mid=1808405861
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