Sharing Literacy
 

Developed for Idaho State Department of Education’s Even Start and Family Literacy Programs

The Sharing Literacy training module is designed to reinforce a shared foundation of literacy knowledge and practice among staff members and collaborators involved in family literacy efforts.  Participants develop a strengthened repertoire of strategies for helping families provide young children with enriched literacy experiences that support school success.

The module’s structure and format is based on the University of Idaho’s Building Effective and Successful Teams (BEST) model for delivering in-service training, which emphasizes team learning and direct application of knowledge.  This model has been researched, refined and used successfully with over 200 teams.  Teams of two to ten staff members and collaborators form site-based study groups to complete each chapter in the in-service training module. Teams usually take 1½ - 2 hours to study a chapter by reading and discussing the material and completing activities together.  Programs may arrange team meetings to fit their schedule.  Program supervisors and/or BEST staff members monitor and support their work through e-mail, mail, telephone and/or on-site visits.  Pre, post, and follow-up surveys are completed to evaluate growth related to training efforts.

The Sharing Literacy module focuses on how staff members can work with families to help young children develop literacy skills.  Content is based on research and best practice that supports children’s reading and writing competency.  The family’s role in motivating children and providing critical literacy experiences is emphasized.  Topics for the module are:

·          Chapter One         Working respectfully and effectively with families

·          Chapter Two         Developing young children’s vocabulary/background knowledge

·          Chapter Three       Motivating and supporting literacy with babies and toddlers

·          Chapter Four         Motivating and supporting literacy with preschoolers

·          Chapter Five         Motivating and supporting literacy with K-3 children

·          Chapter Six          Cultivating phonemic awareness

·          Chapter Seven       Unlocking print through phonics and decoding

·          Chapter Eight        Towards Fluency and Comprehension

Each chapter of the module contains the following types of material:

For more information, please contact Valerie Aker at Idaho’s State Department of Education (Vaker@sde.state.id.us) or Laurie Danahy, CDHD, University of Idaho

(ldanahy@uidaho.edu)