Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g09M5b028569; Wed, 9 Jan 2002 17:05:37 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 17:05:37 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <NDBBJNOOBCJMDBIJLDLHIEMACNAA.syero@famlit.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Shani Yero" <syero@famlit.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:590] RE: Attitudes in schools X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 4105 Lines: 100 I couldn't agree more Colleen! When we discuss family literacy in the elementary school, teacher attitudes are very important. Helping teachers to become sensitive to parent learners is one of the first steps to ensuring the success of family literacy in elementary schools. Colleague and friend, Becky King refers to a teachers making a "parent-digm" shift - looking at parents as learners, experts and partners as critical to family literacy success in schools. It has been my experience in school systems across this country that teachers have not been afforded the training and development of skills needed to work with parents. Many teacher preparation programs address parents in the "methods block" or through multicultural classes amidst the other content covered. The USDE publication, New Skills for New Schools: Preparing Teachers in Family Involvement, page 1, says, "School efforts to promote family involvement in children's education will succeed only if teachers are adequately prepared to support these efforts. Teachers - from prekindergarten to secondary school - need skills to create the positive family partnerships that result in student success and improved schools." I believe more ongoing training (pre-service and in-service) to help teachers suspend their judgments of parents (whatever their socio-economic-status, educational or cultural background may be) and develop good communication and partnering skills will be an asset to all. As school districts plan their yearly professional development calendar, suggestions for a series of workshops on teacher attitudes toward family involvement may be a way to get schools to begin thinking about family literacy. In addition to the USDE publication sited earlier produced by the Harvard Family Research Project, Diana Hiatt-Michael has written a paper, Preparing Teachers to Work With Parents, presenting findings from a survey of teacher education programs in California reporting on parent involvement issues and higher education coursework. http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine/fineresources.html#reports J.L."Shani" Yero, Program Specialist National Center for Family Literacy 325 W. Main Street, Ste.200 Louisville, KY 40202 Phone (502) 584-1133 x161 Fax (502) 584-0172 syero@famlit.org -----Original Message----- From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Colleen Angaiak Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 2:59 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:586] Attitudes in schools Since we are discussing working with the public schools, let me ask a question. First some background: I am the coordinator of a new Even Start program. We are funded through a non profit, the Literacy Council of Alaska, which specializes in one-on-one tutoring for adults in need of literacy services, whether it is basic skills, GED, or ESL. The organization also works with school-aged children and runs a computer lab. Our adult programs coordinator has mentioned to me that some of her clients have run into seriously negative attitudes in the schools. Basically once a teacher realizes this parent cannot read or has extremely low skills, they are ignored or treated very badly. This, of course, is a terrible situation for both the parent and the child. This is most prevalent with parents in need of basic skills rather than ESL. So my question is (or I guess my questions ARE): Has anyone else run into this experience? If so, what are or have you done to combat these kinds of attitudes? I am a certified teacher myself, as are my husband and both my parents. While none of us would react to a parent in this way, I can think of many teachers I've known who would. Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but it is the school issue weighing most heavily on me these days. ===== Colleen Angaiak Even Start Coordinator Literacy Council of Alaska 1949 Gillam Way Fairbanks, AK 99709 Phone: 907/456-5013 Fax: 907/456-1657 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/
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