Dear Colleagues,

In her post to Jean, Janet's final sentence reads "The question becomes one of building a base with community folks who learn how to teach, engaging professional teachers, finding non-govt funding, and/or..?"

It seems to me that the "and/or" must include deciding what you want your outcomes to be. As we always said in our early Professional Development sessions on family literacy, "You must begin with the end in mind."  That is, what difference (in the end) do you want your program to make?

Then, back up from there and begin your plans to make that difference. Do you want parents to be more interested/invested/engaged in their children's education?  Then, maybe parent education sessions will be the place to start.

Do you want children to develop a love for reading?  Then maybe the PACT Time Sessions during which you and the parents read aloud is the place to start.  

Do you want children to get a leg up on preparation for school learning?  Then, reading workshops may be the place to start.

I know, I know, you want all of this.  But as it stands, all of this might not be possible, yet.

But please don't give up, Jean, because you don't have all the ducks in a row, at this point.  You can do something to make a difference, even if you don't have full funding or if the feeder idea doesn't work for awhile.  I know you can and will.

Meta Potts
FOCUS on Literacy
Glen Allen, VA

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Janet Isserlis <Janet_Isserlis at brown.edu> 


> Jean and all 

> 

> Another small piece of the overall landscape: 

> 

> The notion of being a feeder into programs is one that we've talked about in 

> different ways here in Providence, and I'm guessing you've thought about 

> this in terms of the public library family literacy programs? 

> 

> Either way, as you know - and as others on the list know - the demands of 

> NRS reporting demands make it difficult, if not impossible to use federal or 

> state funding for a 'small' and simple program model. PACT (parent and 

> children time together), parent time alone, children time alone), are 

> tremendously important elements in the overall quality of families' learning 

> and as part of a transition into more 'regular' classes (for parents) and 

> school (for kids). Having parents determine topics they want to discuss is 

> also a key factor. Not sure at this moment in time in Providence if 

> 'bigger' agencies have the energy to think about collaboration as such 

> (we're in the midst of a newly redesigned 3-year RFP process) - BUT I think 

> there's huge merit in what you're working on. 

> 

> The question becomes one of building a base with community folks who learn 

> how to teach, engaging professional teachers, finding non-govt funding, 

> and/or..? 

> 

> Janet Isserlis 

> Literacy Resources/RI 

> 

> janet_isserlis at brown.edu 

> 

> > From: 

> > Reply-To: The Family Literacy Discussion List 

> > Date: 1 Mar 2007 18:06:00 -0000 

> > To: 

> > Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 584] Re: Drop in Family Literacy? 

> > 

> > Thanks Virgina. 

> > Is PACT a formal program? I'm not familiar with it. I hadn't 

> > considered the areas you brought up, but are certainly useful topics. These 

> > group ideas sound wonderful, and could really help with the whole community 

> > building aspect. Maybe if we offer some topical classes on a schedule that 

> > could increase attendance too. We'd talked about parenting skills, and 

> > literacy 

> > building ideas as part of the model, but I see the paradigm could be so much 

> > bigger. 

> > 

> > I guess the downside of limited progress could be problematic in 

> > convincing funders to participate. One of our thoughts is to reach the 

> > underserved 

> > and not to replicate what other programs are doing. I wonder though, if we 

> > could be a feeder into them. 

> > 

> > Thanks for your ideas! I love the brainstorming 

> > of a community of practice. 

> > 

> > Jean Marrapodi 

> > Director of Education 

> > Providence 

> > Assembly of God Learning Center 

> > 353 Elmwood Avenue 

> > Providence, RI 02907 

> 

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