Region VI Education Service Center Head Start Literacy Program
Debora Branum, Parent Involvement/Family Literacy Consultant, Region VI Education Service Center, Amarillo, Texas
From children and families with little or no exposure to books, to children and families who read as many as three thousand plus books in one school term-this is the difference that Region VI's Head Start literacy program is making in the Texas panhandle.
The program, which began three years ago with a grant to the Region's Education Service Center in Amarillo, initially guided parents toward continuing education. This endeavor alone resulted in 50 parents earning GED's, with 22 percent going on to college during its first two years. This year, a projected 75 will earn diplomas, with about 200 attending classes.
While "continuing education" did improve literacy the first year, there was concern about needing to have a more direct impact on all children and families in the Head Start program. As a result, the reading program was born.
The reading program encourages the parents of all 983 enrolled children to read nightly to their children. Throughout the year, recognition and awards are given to parents in the classrooms and at five regional parent training sessions.
Once a child and parent have read five books, they send a completed form to school. The child's name is then colorfully displayed around a poster depicting the reading theme. For example, with themes like "Take a Giant Step," "Be a Star," "Link up with Literacy," "Catch It. .Read," the student's name is written on a foot, star, link, or butterfly, respectively.
At the last regional parent training session of the year, each child whose parent has read to him or her is rewarded with a pencil and either a book mark, certificate, ribbon, or button. All children are rewarded the same whether 10 books or 150 books have been read.
In addition to children receiving awards and rewards, the family that has read the most books during the year is recognized. The "Grand Reader" is chosen and presented with a trophy for reading the most books of any family in the region. Last year's "Grand Reader" family read 3,120 books.
The program has provided an opportunity to empower parents in their roles as primary educators of their children. Staff see parents and students spending more time together, an increase in self-esteem in entire families, and greatly improved language skills.
During the literacy training sessions, children some times meet with their parents; at other times parents meet alone while their children engage in activities in other parts of the building. Staff members often teach lessons around some of the books that have been shared between parents and children.
The strength of the program lies in the outstanding support received from classroom staff and volunteer parents. The enthusiasm of the staff in reporting countless stories of success continues to propel the program forward.