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Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 10:04:32 -0500 (EST)
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From: "Laura Bercovitz" <LBercovitz@irc-desplaines.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:577] RE: family literacy in K-6
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We've conducted separate focus groups with teachers, parents and students
(depending on the children's ages) to get the various points of view
regarding parental involvement in school and their role in
supporting/monitoring their children's learning. What has always emerged is
the frustration on all sides of this issues and in some cases real anger
focused on one or more of the "other" parties. What's great about a family
literacy program is that is gives voices to everyone and communication
begins to flow. The discovery that there "are no bad guys out there" is
wonderful to view both from the parents side and the school staff side.
Focus groups can be very effective in that they allow dialogue to build upon
each other -- rather like listserv conversations. However, it's important
the confidentiality be kept and that the participants understand that what
is said in the session is not repeated. We also did not allow any school
administrators into any of the sessions. If working with ESOL parents it's
essential that the first language be used. That may mean more than one
group is held. Focus groups often aren't used because of the time they
require, but if it can be done the information gathered is wonderful. There
are books written on designing and conducting focus groups.
[Laurie Bercovitz] -----Original Message-----
From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of
PRNancy@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 6:42 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:574] RE: family literacy in K-6
In a message dated 1/8/2002 3:31:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, jsflc@rcn.com
writes:
. One of our programs in Massachusetts begins the year by asking
elementary teachers to think about their classroom and the kinds of things
they would want parents to understand and be involved in to support their
children's learning. This questioning has evolved into a schoolwide effort
to link families to community resources and to locate books in the local
library to support curriculum themes. As teachers begin to see that family
literacy specialists are interested in what they (meaning teachers)do and
what they want --more formal concepts about family literacy are introduced.
What a great needs assessment! Anybody else have any specific ways to gauge
faculty needs, as well as family needs, in the area of literacy for an Even
Start grant?
Thank you for such great discussions!
Nancy Van Leuven
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D190524114-09012002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>We've=20
conducted separate focus groups with teachers, parents and students =
(depending=20
on the children's ages) to get the various points of view regarding =
parental=20
involvement in school and their role in supporting/monitoring their =
children's=20
learning. What has always emerged is the frustration on all sides =
of this=20
issues and in some cases real anger focused on one or more of the =
"other"=20
parties. What's great about a family literacy program is that is =
gives=20
voices to everyone and communication begins to flow. The discovery =
that=20
there "are no bad guys out there" is wonderful to view both from the =
parents=20
side and the school staff side.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D190524114-09012002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D190524114-09012002></SPAN><FONT face=3DTahoma><SPAN=20
class=3D190524114-09012002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Focus groups can=20
be very effective in that they allow dialogue to build upon each other =
-- rather=20
like listserv conversations. However, it's important the =
confidentiality=20
be kept and that the participants understand that what is said in the =
session is=20
not repeated. We also did not allow any school administrators into =
any of=20
the sessions. If working with ESOL parents it's essential that the =
first=20
language be used. That may mean more than one group is held. =
Focus=20
groups often aren't used because of the time they require, but if it can =
be done=20
the information gathered is wonderful. There are books written on=20
designing and conducting focus groups.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><SPAN class=3D190524114-09012002><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma><SPAN =
class=3D190524114-09012002></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT size=3D2><SPAN class=3D190524114-09012002><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff>[Laurie =
Bercovitz] </FONT></SPAN>-----Original=20
Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> nifl-family@nifl.gov=20
[mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]<B>On Behalf Of =
</B>PRNancy@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B>=20
Tuesday, January 08, 2002 6:42 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Multiple recipients of=20
list<BR><B>Subject:</B> [NIFL-FAMILY:574] RE: family literacy in=20
K-6<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT size=3D3>In a message =
dated=20
1/8/2002 3:31:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, jsflc@rcn.com writes:=20
<BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=3D0 face=3DArial size=3D2 =
FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF"><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"=20
TYPE=3D"CITE">. One of our programs in Massachusetts begins the =
year by=20
asking <BR>elementary teachers to think about their classroom and =
the kinds=20
of things <BR>they would want parents to understand and be involved =
in to=20
support their <BR>children's learning. This questioning has =
evolved=20
into a schoolwide effort <BR>to link families to community resources =
and to=20
locate books in the local <BR>library to support curriculum themes. =
As=20
teachers begin to see that family <BR>literacy specialists are =
interested in=20
what they (meaning teachers)do and <BR>what they want --more formal =
concepts=20
about family literacy are introduced. <BR></FONT><FONT lang=3D0 =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF"></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>What a great =
needs assessment!=20
Anybody else have any specific ways to gauge faculty needs, as =
well as=20
family needs, in the area of literacy for an Even Start grant? =
<BR><BR>Thank=20
you for such great discussions! <BR><BR>Nancy Van Leuven</FONT>=20
</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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