Reviews global statistics on illiteracy. Highlights to objectives of UNESCO's International Literacy Year. Discusses the trend toward intergenerational or family literacy programs in the U.S., as exemplified by Head Start, Even Start, and the parent-children literacy efforts of Sharon Darling. (DMM)

This book addresses family literacy as a theoretically sound field of research and practice that can be used to improve literacy worldwide. The book's 14 chapters are divided into four sections. Following the "Introduction" (Andrea DeBruin-Parecki and Barbara Krol-Sinclair), under Section I--Theoretical Perspectives Related to Family…

This guide provides help in locating and securing funds for family literacy programs and illustrates how family literacy programs may be organized and implemented by explaining important legislation and presenting examples of collaborative family literacy efforts that use a variety of resources. The booklet is organized in four parts. Part I…

This manual introduces the topic of family literacy programs in libraries and provides guidelines for libraries that are just getting started in family literacy programs as well as libraries that are further developing their existing programs. It is argued that illiteracy tends to be both intergenerational and cyclic, i.e., if a child's parents…

Creating meaningful links between home and school is a particular concern of teachers and families. As classroom teachers, Betty Shockley and Barbara Michalove heard their students talk often about home literacy events. They wanted to find a way to learn what families valued and practiced, and they wanted to communicate to families how their…

A project was conducted to help parents in adult literacy classes learn how to help their children with mathematics. During the project, numerous kits were created for parent and child to sign out and take home. The kits contain all the materials needed for a mathematical activity, including the mathematics concept targeted in the kit and…

Designed to be used independently by parents or other family members with their preschool or kindergarten-age children, this book presents (in easy-to-read cartoon-style letters) specific ideas for developing literacy skills during day-to-day activities. The book provides practice for children in the following skills: 1) life skills (such as…

This guide describes an exemplary program at Niagara Falls, Canada, Secondary School where parents and children use literacy to strengthen their reading and writing abilities while building stronger family relationships. Parents in the program--many of whom have had negative school experiences--learn about early childhood development, discuss…

This manual is designed to help volunteer teachers in family literacy programs introduce a writing project that provides parents and children with a worthwhile learning experience to take home and share. The guide suggests ways to prepare parents and children for a collaborative story-writing experience and offers ideas on how to structure the…

Family literacy programs are developed on the premise that the important relationships between children and adults affect literacy achievement and activity. The programs bring parents and children together in a teaching and learning environment. The critical teacher in a child's life is the parent. Family programs support and strengthen family…

This "snapshot" presents a review of a new family literacy handbook. Edited by Dr. Barbara Wasik of the FPG Child Development Institute, "The Handbook of Family Literacy" provides scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners (both inside and outside the field) with a valuable snapshot of its current boundaries and rapidly growing content.…

This manual documents a family literacy program developed by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and conducted at a local elementary school. It describes how the program combined General Educational Development (GED) courses for parents with a preschool program for their 3- to 4-year-old children. Based on the Kenan Family Literacy model…

This newsletter theme issue focuses on the impact of learning disabilities within families, specifically families with low literacy skills. It explores the effectiveness of family literacy programs, examines the connection between the field of family literacy and learning disabilities (LD), and offers suggestions on how to work with students with…

This guide is designed to provide a resource on family literacy videotapes for programs in family literacy, adult basic education, and English as a Second Language serving parent populations. The guide provides information from the rating sheets of adult educators throughout Pennsylvania who volunteered their time and expertise in reviewing some…

This document provides an overview of a family literacy demonstration project conducted to offer family literacy classes in three public schools in Philadelphia. The project was designed to help adults meet their own needs and to enable them to support their children's learning. The whole-language, learner-centered approach was used. Background…