1. 1 Improving Literacy through Latino Family Involvement By Michelle K. Jensen, Ph.D.

2. 2 Federal definition of family literacy Interactive literacy activity between parents and children Train parents to be primary teacher to children and full partner in children’s education Education to increase academic success

3. 3 Ecological factors influencing Latino literacy Individual factors Family factors Classroom factors School factors Community opportunities

4. 4 Why worry about Latino student literacy? Latinos are the fastest growing ethno-cultural group in the U.S. today. Teachers and school staff often unprepared to deal with differing cultural and linguistic differences. Latino students often enter school with little preparation and no knowledge of English. Less preschool Home language & level of language Latino students have reduced academic achievement, with the gap widening at each grade level. Latino students’ educational outcomes have not improved significantly in that same timeframe  decreased achievement and high dropout rates.

5. 5 Solution: Increase Latino family involvement Outcomes: Achievement increases Attendance increases Students more likely to complete education Oral language development accelerates (younger children) Meet NCLB and other requirements

6. 6 Differences and concerns Differing value systems Education—Latino parents are VERY interested in their children’s education Parenting— los niños “bien educados” Social norms Relationship Respect/formality Cooperation v. individuality Home/school responsibilities

7. 7 Differences and concerns (cont’d) Differing values and experiences of literacy and language Level of schooling Use of language (home literacy activities) Oral v. print culture (dichos, consejos) Language in childrearing Educational differences Level Experience (systemic access, positive v. not) Expectation (school v. family)

8. 8 Elements of successful family literacy and involvement programs Address multiple, overlapping contexts: Individual factors Family factors Classroom factors School factors Community opportunities

9. 9 Elements of classroom activities to increase student literacy Relationship—increase achievement, reduce dropout Relevance—culture & experience Cooperative groupings as a literacy strategy, e.g. students can read aloud to each other. Assignments that require a language component or task. Assignments that require family involvement in literacy-based activities, e.g. family histories. Portfolio-based assessment. Invite Latino parents (and others) to attend.

10. 10 Elements for successful school-wide family literacy & involvement programming Relationship, relationship, relationship! Involve Latino parents in assessing their needs regarding programming. Homework education for parents. Parental involvement in homework--even just monitoring of homework, can ameliorate the negative effects of poverty or reduced parent education.

11. 11 Elements for successful school-wide family literacy & involvement programming (cont’d) Engage the entire school community in supporting Latino family literacy and family involvement. Staff buy in is critical (at least 70% agreement). Foster the expectation that increasing Latino family literacy improves teaching and learning for ALL students and teachers. Develop a comprehensive plan, with planned evaluation of efforts to know how your program is perceived and whether it's effective.

12. 12 Examples of successful and engaging family literacy & involvement activities Promote native language literacy activities. Offer a 6-week computer literacy class for families. Students need to create a family history. Teach parents (and family members who don't know--kids might teach parents!) how to use the internet to conduct research--in English or Spanish. Have them research several questions together. Take family digital pictures and students use for project. Develop a student and family lending library. Have books in Spanish and English, including tips and books for teaching literacy, parenting, etc. Have community pamphlets and information.

13. 13 Examples of successful and engaging family literacy & involvement activities (cont’d) Offer a planning for high school transition and college seminar for Latino parents. Encourage them to ensure their child does their homework, knows who and how to ask for help. Explain grading and attendance policies, and let them know what kinds of behaviors they might expect to see in their high school student. Sponsor a Latino student club. Students hold school assembly and evening family event, presenting educational programming (e.g. Latinos in history who made a difference in U.S.) and entertainment (song, dance exhibition and family dinner/dance). Foster Latino parent networking. Coordination of efforts K-12

14. 14 Tips for fostering Latino parent involvement Principal involvement /welcome (initial meetings—translation if necessary) Determine “critical” Latino members, ask them to invite others Communication: invitation mailed home in hand addressed envelope (simple bilingual text, large font, graphics), local Spanish radio, church/community organizations (e.g. WIC) Informal initial gatherings to build trust & community ethos Food & childcare

15. 15 Some additional resources “Tips for Parents” in Spanish and English: Social Advocates for Youth has an online tips for parents. To view the parent tips, visit: http://www.saysandiego.org/parentinfo.htm http://www.saysandiego.org/parentinfo.htm Becoming a Community School: A Step-by-Step Guide to Bridging the School-Family Gap. Includes strategies, programs, action guide and sample resources. Available at http://www.psinnovation.org/PSI/btft11.htmlhttp://www.psinnovation.org/PSI/btft11.html National Center for Family Literacy http://www.famlit.org/index.cfm “Un futuro brillante empieza en un libro” (A brilliant future begins with a book), Spanish family literacy initiative website for families (www.rif.org/leer) including resrouces, PSAs and parent videowww.rif.org/leer

16. 16 Immigrant resource guides: Very helpful guides for professionals and for professionals to share with parents. http://www.yale.edu/21c/imresources.html

17. 17 The purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. --S. Harris--