Reading and writing colleagues,
A professor of education at Harvard University, in an article today’s Cognoscenti, an online newsletter of Boston Radio station WBUR, argues that with comprehensive family-oriented reading programs, all children may be able to learn to read at grade level. The article is written by a professor of education at Harvard University, Nonie K. Lesaux, whose research focuses on advancing literacy-learning opportunities for all students.
In Springfield, Massachusetts in 2009, 64 percent of third graders were not proficient readers. Lesaux cites a “promising” early literacy program there that may address this problem. Talk/Read/Succeed!, (TRS) a collaboration of local agencies and schools that includes: parent education workshops; home visits from teachers; adult education and job training for parents; and early education, after school, and summer programs for children. The “vision” of the program is to have all fourth grade children reading at grade level, and it is working closely with 150 families at two Springfield housing developments. “Families will have access to a wide-range of services including parental engagement, parenting education, child education, family financial stability, and personal skill development to assist parents in strengthening their own ability to be their child’s first teacher and most important advocate.”
The TRS program, with its important vision and comprehensive design, may be a good model. Through research and evaluation we may know. Meanwhile, it’s good to see family literacy is getting some attention.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com