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| LINKS | Family Literacy | ||
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Major Organizations National Institute for Literacy Study on English as a Second Language Literacy http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/esl.html
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) NYS TESOL is an association of professionals concerned with the education of English language learners at all levels of public and private education in New York State. |
The discussion of literacy has many subtleties: grade level reading and comprehension skills; principal language literacy; second language literacy. When it comes to social work and serving compromised populations the need for English language proficiency manifests in a variety of situations. Can the client read, understand and fill out a required application – for housing, economic assistance, health care, training, a job? If, somehow you have overcome the application hurdle, how will they fare in “the system” if English is not their primary language? Because service providers are predominantly English speaking, will they misinterpret words, idioms or even customs? Cultural competency and literacy are often closely allied, as well.
For agencies, as ours, serving large numbers of immigrants, who are also living with the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, literacy in all its meanings, has great impact. We struggle to deal with it effectively, and in that struggle have come to recognize many built-in benefits of “family literacy” programs.
Carine Jocelyn
MPA |
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Conferences
2007 NABE 36th Annual Conference
2007 TESOL 41st Annual Convention and Exhibit
The
New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE)
30
th Annual Conference. "Bilingual Education: Thirty Years of Unity,
Advocacy, and Excellence"
16th Annual National Conference on Family Literacy 2007
March 4-6,
Orlando FL 37th Annual NYS TESOL Conference "Technology: The Language that Brings Us Together"
Date: November 2-3,
2007 Classes/Courses New York Public Library ESL Classes http://www.nypl.org/classes/esol.html
The Literacy Assistance Center
Queens Borough Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library
The New York City Board of Education
New York City Dept of Education –
Literacy Assistance Center 32 Broadway, 10th fl. New York, NY 10004 Phone (212)803-3300 Fax (212)785-3685
Written exclusively for Diaspora
Community Services |
What Is Family Literacy?
Family literacy is a term used to describe parents and children - or more broadly - adults and children - learning together. The premise for this approach is that parents (and adults in communities) are children's first teachers; that much learning occurs beyond traditional school settings, and that learning is a life long process. Family literacy acknowledges the role of parents and community, includes ethnic, racial, and cultural heritages of families in the literacy activities in which they engage and has grown to include programs initiated by organizations outside the home. What Is a Family Literacy Program? Family Literacy programs are based on creating opportunities in which parents and children learn and grow together. In addition to facilitating a structured environment where this can occur (sometimes particularly helpful if the home is tense or crowded) most programs evaluate needs and goals in terms of real-world functionality. Recognizing the reciprocal nature of parent-child relationships, Family Literacy programs provide both parent-initiated and child-initiated activities, integrating early childhood and adult education into unified programs. The National Institute for Literacy has documented some of the components that have contributed to Even Start programs (www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/family.html ):
A varied curriculum also increases a program's attractiveness. Parents may want specific instruction in how to help their children learn, or strategies for disciplining them. They may want to learn English, increase their own skills to get a better job, function more competently in society, or simply be more personally fulfilled. Parents who feel like successful learners, no matter what the curriculum, can convey the sense of accomplishment to their children (Griswold &Ullman, 1997; Shanahan, Mulhern, & Rodriguez-Brown, 1995. Source: http://www.kidsource.com/education/parentread.html )
Where Can You Find a Family Literacy Program? In addition to the resources listed at left, the following are Family Literacy Programs available in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment Ebert Julia - Coordinator of Community Literacy Tennis House, Prospect Park Brooklyn 11215 Phone: 718-788-8500 ext.238 Email: jebert@bcue.org Eligibility: Services for families in the Bushwick area Description of Services: Literacy program that includes four components: ESOL for adults, homework help and literacy-based instruction for children, parent education and parent and child time. Currently, these services are for families.
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Brooklyn Public Library Susan O'Connor-Literacy Program Mngr. 431 6th Ave., Brooklyn 11215 Phone: 718 832 3560 Fax: 718 832 9032 Email: s.oconnor@brooklynpubliclibrary.org WebSite: www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org Services Offered: Computer Training, Afterschool programs, Elder services, Recreation/sports Eligibility: NONE Description of Services: Ready to Read Initiative for Children and Parents; Adult Student Literacy and Technology Classes; Parent Workshops; Program for Children with Special Needs.
Bushwich Even Start/ ACE Integration Headstart Haimson Ahuva - Teacher-ESL Adults 1419-23 Broadway Brooklyn 11221 Phone: 718 443 7906 Fax: 718 443 2933 Email: ednahoover@hotmail.com Eligibility: None Description of Services: Even Start (Family Literacy) programming
Even Start/ Brooklyn South Jacqueline Lucas - Site Coordinator 1599 E 22ND ST BROOKLYN 11210 Phone: 718 252 7521 Fax: 718 252 7521 Services Offered: Job Training/Career Preparation, Counseling/Mental health services, Childcare Eligibility: Children younger than 2nd Grade Description of Services: ESL and Adult Basic Education Classes; Childcare for Infants and Toddlers of Students; Weekly Interactive Literacy Activities for Parents and Children On-Site and Once Monthly at Home; Weekly Parenting Classes.
NYC College of Technology/ Center for Intergenerational Reading Ellen Goldsmith – Director 39 JAY ST. BROOKLYN 11201 Phone: 718 260 5389 Fax: 914 478 1360 Email: egoldsmith@citytech.cuny.edu Eligibility: NONE Description of Services: Computer Assisted Pre-GED and GED Course that Runs for 14 Weeks.
Project Reach Youth, Inc. Heddy Mills - Deputy Director 199 14th Street, 3rd Floor BROOKLYN 11215 Phone: 718 768 0778 Fax: 718 768 1419 Email: pry1@dti.neT Services Offered: Computer Training, Job Training/Career Preparation, Afterschool programs, Social Services, Immigrant services. Eligibility: NONE Description of Services: Comprehensive Educational and Supportive Services, Including Adult Education, Eary Childhood Education, Interactive Literacy, Parenting and Family Support Services.
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Diaspora Community Services,
182 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel (718) 399-0200 Fax (718) 399-0360 Email: info@diasporacs.org
© Copyright Diaspora Community Services 2006. All Rights Reserved.
