[AAACE-NLA] NIFL: Teach the Parent, Reach the Child

[AWilder106@aol.com]

Dear Friends,

I've read all the emails on the points of family literacy since they  were posted this morning, it is now 1:05 pm.

I have no quarrel with teaching an adult,  particularly a  mother, so that the child  will learn to read and write,and so that there are better health outcomes for the family, like lower fertility for the  mother.  

I also have no quarrel with teaching the child, and then  having conferences with the parent/parents at home. As I said, I did this myself, children's work improved, parents were  much happier in part I think  because they felt that now I understood--I may or may not have, but I remember everyone of those conferences.  

I also support early childhod education, maybe it was on this list that I fumbled around with the title to an exemplary pre-school program (I couldn't remember the name) whose effects continued to make an academic difference in the children's lives, e.g., graduation from high school and going  to college.  With that program there was some food and health aid for parents, too.

So here's my difficulty: What are the effects (tested) of formal Family Literacy programs?  I know, anecdotally, they make a difference--I have interviewed mothers.  How is effectiveness measured? Any studies with controls?  How about PACT?  Is it any good?  How is it any good, against what I have just laid  out?

I went  to the Family Literacy web site, but won't be able to get any answers without considerable digging.  So I turn to the list hoping  for some clarity, here.

Thanks for the  emails, many references, and the other suggested websites. I will check them all out.

Andrea