The Goal of Family Literacy
Hello! My name is Lana Brady and I have the privilege of facilitating the classes in the Family Literacy program this year. I like to think of this program as a bridge to offer parents opportunities to build relationships between their children, the teachers, and the school. As a parent of students in the Columbus Public School system, I know first hand the benefits of feeling comfortable and connected within the schools where my children spend a majority of their time. In order to cultivate these relationships, the Family Literacy program is divided into three components: English classes, Community Time, and “Parent and Child Together” time or PACT.
A Look at English Classes
We offer two levels of English classes and use a program called Burlington English to facilitate these classes. The students’ class level was determined by placement tests they took at the beginning of the program and they will be tested again after 40 hours of instruction. The lessons we use are directly from Burlington English and students also have access to online lessons through Burlington English outside of the classroom. Each lesson is directly tied to language learning standards and consists of reading, listening, speaking, and writing activities. Take a look at the table to understand some of our language learning focus for the semester.
Class A (beginner class) - Language Focus
Alphabet
Colors
Introductions
Student phrases used in a classroom
Teacher phrases used in a classroom
Class B (advanced class) - Language Focus
Introductions
Reading about reasons for immigration
Meeting neighbors and giving personal information
Writing about future goals
Talking about the weather
Writing a description about a person
A Breakdown of the Numbers
We are currently serving 20 adult learners and 18 families from 5 countries.
Connections in the Community
The purpose of Community Time is to help families gain confidence in relating to their children, the school, and the community. Community time is designed to give families instruction in community resources and school procedures and norms while building relationships with school personnel and other community members. This time is also used to give parents ideas for how to connect with their children through literacy, games, and enriching experiences.
Some of the highlights from Community Time this semester have been:
Meeting Dr. Kay and the Elementary principals to discuss their roles in the school district (picture 1)
Connecting with School Social Worker Sara Papa and learning about resources available in Columbus
Reading report cards and learning about proficiency scales with Teresa Hausmann
Understanding the district’s sick policy and getting vision checks with Lynn Liermann and Channa Larsen
Talking with secretary Barbie Cheloha about when to call the school and how to report a student absence
Discussing various safety procedures and drills with Officer Loontjer and Mrs. Luebbe and practicing both lockdown and evacuation drills
Tasting and describing a variety of apples with visiting community members
Parent and Child Together (PACT time)
The last component of this program is “PACT time” which consists of classroom observation within the school and participating in activities with their child outside of the school. As parents are in the classrooms observing, they are gaining valuable experiences, understanding, and opportunities to gain insight into their child’s world. These observations have also allowed parents to become more familiar with our education system and to initiate beneficial conversations with their children. It is a highlight of their time in this program! We also seek to create activities they can use at home to foster relationships with their children, practice their English, and promote literacy in the home.
This year has been full of learning and making connections! Most of all, it has been amazing to watch these students grow in their confidence and sense of belonging within CPS. Thank you for being an integral part of the process of helping these families acclimate to a new home.