Learning: Reading
Teaching Kids by Educating Parents

A California literacy program trains parents to help their children read.

It's Tuesday night in San Diego, California, and after a hard day's work, a crowd of tired but dedicated parents boards a group of buses. Instead of taking them home, the buses head to a small downtown campus that by day serves elementary students, and by night helps parents eager to play a part in their children's education. When they reach their destination, parents drop off their babies and children at nearby classrooms and step into an evening of lessons.

Welcome to Parent University, a school community project helping children and parents from the city's poorest schools.

"The project is designed around literacy, because we know parents who read help their children succeed," explains NEA member Bea Fernandez, a Parent University coordinator. "And without the skills or the books to help them reinforce their children's learning, these parents can be just as lost as their children."

Parent University offers parents from these Title 1 schools guidance in reading aloud to their children, help in identifying books to read, and activities to do at home.

At the same time, the children in the program's child care and evening classrooms get help with their reading.

"We have trained aides and teachers reading to the children, helping them with homework, and leading activities," says Fernandez. "Even the babies and toddlers get into it because we have a very fun read-aloud every evening."

The classes run Tuesday and Thursday nights for eight-week sessions, and parents learn a variety of techniques to try at home.

"More than 200 parents take part now--a big increase from when the program began three years ago," says Fernandez. "Many of these are Hispanic parents, some of whom are intimidated by our schools. This is a tremendous commitment for them and indicates their desire to help their children."

In return, Parent University offers the parents access to a dedicated group of teachers, skilled in helping parents as well as children and committed to the literacy program.

"Parents aren't the only ones learning valuable lessons," adds Fernandez. "For some of the teachers, Parent University has been an education as well, teaching them about the lives outside of their classroom doors and adding insight and greater sensitivity to their teaching."

One special treat: A home library, given to four lucky parents at the end of each session. "We can't talk about reading to children at home if you don't have any books," says Fernandez. "We paired with the San Diego Literacy Foundation to collect the books, and it's wonderful to be able to give them."

"We're seeing more and more parents involved in education even beyond the reading," says Fernandez. "And the children are truly reaping the benefit of seeing their parents as role models of good reading behavior. It's truly a win-win situation."

How to...
Get Parents Involved

According to the National Center for Educa-tion Statistics, children who are read to at home have a higher success rate at school. Yet only 53 percent of children ages three to five are read to daily by a family member, and children in poor families are even less likely to be read to aloud every day. That's why programs like the Parent University are so important. What can you do for parents who want to advance literacy at home? Here are a few tips:

• Start with family reading nights. Getting parents to enjoy a family reading activity just might get them hooked on reading every night.

• Offer parents resources and materials they can use at home. Books that can be sent home and activities a child and parent can do together are great ways to get started.

• Let parents know that there are different ways to engage their children in reading. Create activities such as recognizing words in stores, reading recipes, looking for words in newspapers, asking about stories and characters, and writing and drawing projects.

• Always respect the parents, their needs, and their circumstances. Let them know what you can do to help, and offer other contacts and resources.

• Set up book-fairs, author visits--even presentations by other parents and parent coordinators--to make the experience as fun and educational for the parent as for the child.