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Literacy: A Family
Questions and Answers
Q. What are the biggest barriers to family involvement?
A: Strong Families, Strong Schools, a book by Ballen & Moles, cites four primary barriers to family involvement:
- Time. With the dramatic rise in two-working parent families, one-parent families, and the need for family members to hold more than one job, families are stretched in many directions. According to the Familes and Work Institute in New York, 66% of employed parents with children under 18 say they do not have enough time for their children
- Uncertainty. Many parents today are unsure about how to best help their children learn. The problem is further exacerbated by the growing number of teen parents who approach parenthood unprepared for the task. Other parents may have had bad experiences with school themselves and are reluctant to return to school, even as a parent. Further, many feel intimidated by more educated teachers and unsure about the value of their contributions.
- Cultural barriers. The families of the children being educated in America's schools today are extremely diverse. Many immigrant families do not speak or understand English. Families also have different views and values on schools, teaching, and their own role in their children's education.
- Lack of a supportive environment. Historically schools have had as their mission serving children, not their families If the situation is to change, schools need to establish clear policies on family involvement and reach out to families on a personal level.
Likewise, employers need to be supportive of their employees who are parents, allowing more flexibility in work schedules as well as more options for part-time employment.
Q: What can parents do at home to support their children's development of literacy skills?
A: Many things. Here are just a few ideas:
- Talk with children. Introduce new vocabulary. Listen to what they say and ask them questions.
- Read to children every day.
- Let children see them reading.
- Go to the library together. If their child doesn't already have a library card, encourage him or her to get one.
- Set aside a regular family reading hour.
- Monitor their child's homework.
- Monitor out-of-school activities.
- Volunteer at their child's school.
Q: What role do schools play in fostering family involvement?
A: Involvement is a two-way street. While families have to be willing to participate, schools need to let families know that they are welcome. A recent (October 30, 2002) article in Education Week cites Joyce Epstein, director of the National Network of Partnership Schools in this regard. Epstein describes six models schools can implement to engender family involvement: Schools can:
- Assist families with parenting and child-rearing skills;
- Communicate with families about school programs and student progress and needs;
- Work to improve recruitment training, and schedules to involve families as volunteers in schools activities;
- Encourage families to be involved in learning programs at home;
- Include families participants in important school decisions;
- Coordinate with businesses and agencies to provide resources and services for families, students, and community.
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