Table Of Content

DOCUMENT RESUME ED 352 535 CE 062 697 AUTHOR Bretton, Esther TITLE Ready, Set, Read. Final Report. INSTITUTION TIU Adult Education and Job Training Center, Lewistown, PA. SPONS AGENCY Pennsylvania State Dept. of Education, Harrisburg. Div. of Adult Basic and Literacy Education Programs. PUB DATE 92 NOTE 67p. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) Classroom Use Guides Teaching Guides (For Teacher) (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adult Basic Education; Curriculum Guides; Library Extension; Literacy Education; Oral Reading; *Parent Child Relationship; Parent Education; Parenting Skills; *Parent Workshops; Preschool Children; Preschool Education; *Reading Aloud to Others; *Reading Games; Reading Habits; Reading Readiness; *Story Reading; Story Telling IDENTIFIERS 353 Project; *Family Literacy ABSTRACT This document describes a project to develop and implement a curriculum to convince parents and caregivers of 3- and 4-year-olds how important it is for them to read to their children, to enhance their own reading skills, and to promote their confidence in instructing their children. The 16-page project report discusses the achievement of 4 objectives: (1) curriculum development; (2) enrollment of 34 parents in the 6-week sessions; (3) parents' selection of age-appropriate books and reading aloud to their children; and (4) visits to the local library. The bulk of the document is the curriculum, which is designed for six 2-hour sessions and covers the following topics: reading and playing, reading and talking, reading aloud, reading and writing, reading and school, and reading and the library. Materials for each session include a list of objectives, directions for conducting a series of instructional activities, and some materials (for instance, drawings and worksheets to be copied, patterns for puppets, and a recipe for play dough) needed for the activities. Many of the activities are those that parents and caregivers can do later with their children; others teach skills that will help them interact effectively with their children about reading. For instance, reading aloud situations in which children are disruptive are role played. An evaluation form for participants is included. (CML) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Final Report Ready, Set, Read by Esther Bratton, Instructor Carol Molek, Adult Education Director 91-92 Tuscarora Intermediate Unit Adult Education and Job Training Center 1020 Belle Vernon Avenue Lewistown, PA 17044 717-248-4942 7Z7 98-2065 - $4750 supported In part by the The activity which is tne subject of this report, was However, the opinions expressed herein do not U.S. Department of Education. Department of Education or necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. official endorsement should be the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and no Inferred. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS U.{. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Cebu, of Educational Research and Improvement EDU IONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) (.1 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it D Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality THE EDUCA"., 'NAL RESOURCES Points of %new or opinions stateo in this dOcu. merit do not necessarily represent official FORMATION CL,,TER (ERIC) I OERI position or policy I . 2 BEST COPY AVAilABIE Acknowledgments We wish to thank the Pennsylvania Department of Education for funding Bureau of Adult this project and especially Dr. John Christopher, Ed.D., Director, Basic and Literacy Education for his support of our programs. Partin, for We also extend gratitude to PDE Special Projects Advisor, Dan Read" has his technical assistance and guidance. Funding for "Ready, Set, of much allowed us to enhance and develop our programming and delivery needed services to our area's adults. Unit Board As always we value the support of the Tuscarora Intermediate Intermediate Unit continues to and our Executive Director, Dr. Dale Heller. The recognize our unique contribution to the total organization. County Head Special thanks to the staff of the Juniata County and Mifflin providing childcare, Start programs. Both have worked cooperatively with us depended on this facility, and personnel. The success of "Ready, Set, Read" collaborative effort. -Carol Molek, Project Director Table of Contents Page 2 Abstract 3 Introduction Statement of Problem 6 7 Goals and Objectives 8 Procedures 1 0 Results 40 13 Evaluation 1 5 Dissemination 1 6 Conclusions/Recommendations "Ready, Set, Read" Curriculum Appendix: Ready, Set, Read Final Report 1 Abstract Title: Ready. Set. Read Director: Carol Mole Address: TIU Adult Education and Job Training Center 1020 Belle Vernon Avenue Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone No. 717-248-4942 Federal Funding: $4,750 Duration of Project: No. of Months: To: 12 6/30/92 From: 7/1/91 Objectives: to develop a "Ready, Set, Read" curriculum that will 1) stress the importance of parents - in reading to their children, 2) enhance adult's reading skills and 3) promote confidence in parents the ways they instruct their children. serving approximately 18 parents over 2 six week sessions, - to promote family literacy by of the participants will 9 parents each session, by using the "Ready, Set, Read" curriculum (halt be new to our program). keep 3 different age appropriate books for their child after looking - parents will select and read these at and discussing sample copies. Parents will improve basic skills by learning to books effectively to their children. library and sign out and utilize at least 2 books with their child. - parents will visit the local Description: "Ready, Set, Read" was a family literacy program for ABE parents. The project encouraged family reading activities that help foster an enthusiasm for reading in children and original activities adults. The curriculum came from adaptations of other's work, as well as involving parents writing their own books and puppet story telling. Target Audience: Target audience for "Ready, Set, Read" was at least 18 ABE parents expressing a desire to work to develop a love for reading in their children. Product: A final report including detailed curriculum outline and bibliography. Method of Evaluation: Successful evaluation was based on completing the objectives as stated above. We served 34 parents through the program against our plan of 18. Ready, Set, Read Final Report 2 5 Ready, Set, Read Introduction improved reading skills for "Ready, Set, Read" was designed to promote includes techniques that make reading all members of families. The curriculum feasible to Adult Basic Education books to pre-school children both fun and help those with low reading levels level parents. The curriculum is designed to foster an interest in reading develop the confidence and knowledge needed to within their children in the early childhood years. from three basic sources. It The curriculum for "Ready, Set, Read" came includes ideas and activities from: Together), a 310 Project (#85- 1. Project "PACT" (Parents and Children for Adults in Centre County, 98-6001) developed by the Development Center literacy kit developed by Push 2. "Laying the Foundations," a family D.C., and Literacy Action Now (PLAN) out of Washington and students," from Napa City- 3. "Family Literacy, a manual for tutors County Library, Napa, CA. follows: The time frame for this program in the 1991-92 year was as curriculum and Phase One - July, August - Adaptation of recruitment hour class each week for six Phase Two - Delivery of sessions - one, two weeks September October - Session One October - November - Session Two December - January - Session Three Session Four March - April Ready, Set, Read Final Report 3 Final report Phase Three - May, June Director of the The project director was Carol Molek, Adult Education eight years Adult Education and Job Training Center. Ms. Molek has over Unit and experience coordinating adult programs for the Intermediate other developing curriculum. Ms. Molek directed the project, supervised the time frame, personnel involved, was responsible for maintaining the planned with the recruited program participants and reported to and communicated Department. experience Instructor for the project was Esther Bratton. Ms. Bratton has She has a B.S. in and credentials to ably coordinate family literacy programs. has completed Elementary Education and a PA Teacher's certification. She (CDA). She has training and is certified as a Child Development Associate Pennsylvania Department of been trained as a trainer for Family Literacy by the development activities Education and has participated in many in-service staff As a Head Start instructor for over nine years as an adult instructor for the I. U. created learning Ms. Bratton taught nineteen three to five year olds. She children develop socially, envircnments with a variety of experience to help the to have each intellectually, physically and emotionally. Ms. Bratton's goal was confidence and self child experience much success and a positive attitude of understanding of worth. Parents she worked with developed a greater been instructing in appropriate expectations for their children. Ms. Bratton has family literacy programs for over three years. Basic Education Audiences most benefiting from this project are Adult adults, but by increasing parents. This family literacy project directly serves children. their parenting skills, indirectly also serves their Ready, Set, Read Final Report 4 7 The audience for this final report is adult educators and administrators into their ABE who are seeking ways to integrate a family literacy component program. Permanent copies of this report can be obtained from: Bureau of Adult Basic Literacy Education Pennsylvania Department of Education 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 and AdvancE Pennsylvania Department of Education 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126-07333 Intermediate Unit "Ready, Set, Read" was administered by the Tuscarora educational agency which No. 11. The Tuscarora Intermediate Unit is a local school districts and 3 provides education and management services to nine Mifflin vocational-technical schools in Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata and Counties. Center programs at The Intermediate Unit operates or oversees all Adult Center programs have the TIU Adult Education and Job Training Center. the GED Alumni included 306/321 ABE and GED programs; ACT 143 Program; for single parents and Association; various JTPA Programs; Carl Perkins project projects. displaced homemakers and thirty 310/353 special Education and Job "Ready, Set, Read" was housed at the TIU Adult Technical School in Training Center at the Juniata-Mifflin Area Vocational of a wide variety of Lewistown, Mifflin County. The Adult Center is the home in Juniata and Mifflin adult education programs meeting the needs of adults of successful Counties. February '92 marked the Adult Center's 8th year operation. Ready, Set, Read Final Report 5 8 Statement of Problem documented nationally, The need to break the cycle of illiteracy is well help break this chain. The and "Ready, Set, Read" is a program designed to when hearing existing need for such a program became very apparent mother stated, "I just hate comments from past ABE students. One young they I don't read very good, so they go to their dad when reading to my kids. reading mother had commented, "I don't want a book read." Anoth. low level Other students had asked, "What enjoy reading to my kids, so I don't do it." Even parents who realize the need kinds of books would be best for my child?" skills often feel that the task is beyond to help their children develop reading of that when their children their scope and that the school system will take care II bridge that gap and helps parents reach school age. "Ready, Set, Read" helps their children in the early understand the great importance of reading with childhood years. Ready, Set, Read Final Report 6 Goals and Objectives skills for all The goal of "Ready, Set, Read" is to improve the reading readiness techniques. members of the family by instructing parents in reading Objectives for the project were: 1) stress to 1) - To develop a "Ready, Set, Read" curriculum that will 2) enhance adult's reading parents the importance of reading to their children, the ways they instruct their skills and 3) promote confidence in parents in children. 18 parents over 2) - To promote family literacy by serving approximately by using the "Ready, Set, Read" 2 six week sessions, 9 parents each session, program). curriculum (half of the participants will be new to our books for 3) - Parents will select and keep 3 different age appropriate copies. Parents will improve their child after looking at and discussing sample their children. basic skills by learning to read these books effectively to least 2 4) - Parents will visit the local library and sign out and utilize at books with their child. Ready, Set, Read Final Report 7 10