The academic success of students often hinges on a partnership between educators and families. Both components working together has been essential.
LaMonte/LaMonte Annex Elementary School began the Family Literacy Project in 2017 to encourage reading at home among families and create a community of readers. The program welcomes all families with students in the school district.
Think of the Family Literacy Project as a bi-monthly book club for parents. Attendees enjoy coffee, tea and a light breakfast while they share reviews of the previously distributed books. Educators introduce the new set of books and provide techniques and activities the families can engage in together.
“We encourage families to share reading tips, as well as their family traditions and cultures,” said Clinical Social Worker Ms. Sally Mendoza. “The Family Literacy Project has become much more than reading; it’s a community-building program.”
Bilingual households that speak both Spanish and English benefit from the reading materials and techniques. Ms. Sally Mendoza leads the program and translates information so that all attendees can participate in the language they are most comfortable with.
Reading helps develop language and listening skills, builds brain connections, and fosters a strong foundation for academic success.
“I fell in love with this program. It’s one of my favorite things the school does,” said Elanor, a parent who began attending The Family Literacy Program in 2023. “It has given me the opportunity to learn Spanish because I’m an English speaker, so my household is bilingual.”
Before attending the program, Elanor did not realize there were so many bilingual books. That is what she values most – access to reading materials she and her two students can learn from together.
The book selections accommodate a wide range of reading levels so parents can work with multiple students. Some books fit reading proficiency levels up to fourth grade. One parent says her older student practices reading the more difficult books to her other child, a student at LaMonte. Then they all work on the comprehension activities together.
“Flores Family Café,” one of the books introduced at the February meeting has a vocabulary section at the end of the book. Many of the Family Literacy Project books have
this tool; parents appreciate it as they work with students on recognizing words in both Spanish and English. The books selected often have cultural themes that encourage discussion among families.
Bound Brook High School Librarian Mrs. Kathryn Llera attended the meeting. She recommended families read for 20 minutes each day with their student(s). And that doesn’t mean saving reading for bedtime; she encouraged families to find time throughout the day to weave it in, such as identifying letters, numbers and words while on a walk or a drive in the car.
Regular reading at home helps students build a richer understanding of the world around them. The Family Literacy Project is one way the Bound Brook School District encourages a lifelong love of reading in students.
Mrs. Kathryn Llera is holding a free book fair with books for all ages, interests and reading levels in May during the spring musical at the high school. Stay tuned for details.