Defining Family Literacy
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Definitions
Literacy
Literacy is much more than being able to read and
write. Literacy allows people to read the world rather than just
the word. It involves using the different forms of communication
which give us further opportunities in our society – for
ourselves, our families, and our communities. Literacy helps us
understand the world we live in. It also helps us understand ourselves
and express our identity, our ideas and our cultures.
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Numeracy
Numeracy helps us understand the world we live in.
It is about using numbers to get things done.
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Family
Family is defined as two or more people related by
blood, marriage, adoption, or commitment to care for one another.
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Family Literacy
Family literacy is about the ways families use literacy
and language in their daily lives. It is about
how families:
- learn
- use literacy to do everyday tasks
- help children develop literacy
- use literacy to maintain relationships
with each other and with the community
- interact
with organizations and institutions
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Examples of family literacy
There are many different literacy practices
used by families. Some are reading and writing
activities, while others help build literacy in other ways. Here
are a few examples:
Learning
A father and child walk upstairs together, and then
they share a library book about numbers. Back to top
Doing everyday tasks
A mother involves a child in writing a grocery list,
and then they find the items together at the store. Back to top
Helping children develop literacy
On a bus ride, a teenager plays word games with his
younger sister and points out street and shop signs. Back to top
Maintaining relationships
A family reads religious texts together and talks
about the meaning and relevance to their everyday life. Back to top
Learning to speak up for your child & interacting with institutions
A parent and child discuss the child's report card with the
teacher.
Every family uses literacy to do different things every day. This
includes families with an oral tradition as well as families that
use print often. Back to top
How family literacy programs work
Family literacy programs provide meaningful opportunities
for children, their parents, other family members
and caregivers to learn and grow together.
Family literacy programs:
- help build self-esteem
- address individual and family needs by building
on strengths
- recognize adult family members' skills,
knowledge and attitudes as powerful influences
on children's emergent literacy and success in
school
- promote the development of closer, stronger relationships within
families
- value families' use of first languages
and diverse cultural practices
- provide resources
that increase the motivation to learn on the part
of adults and children
- help prepare children for school
- help families understand the school
system and their roles in it
- include as many as
possible of the following program components:
- early
childhood education
- parenting support
- interactive parent-child
learning activities
- adult literacy instruction
or support
- information about community supports
and help in accessing them
- health and nutrition
education
Family literacy programs promote community collaboration to provide
a seamless, flexible and accessible system of services and supports
for families with children.
Sources:
Ontario Literacy Coalition, Literacy Matters and
Family Literacy Fact Sheets. Back to top
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