This week, during Family Literacy Week, the Department of Education is making information available to raise awareness of the key role of families in helping children develop literacy skills and a love of learning. The week was officially proclaimed today by Education Minister Mildred Dover.
Family literacy refers to the ways families use reading, writing and numeracy in daily activities. “This week, we are encouraging families to involve children in everyday activities such as following a recipe, making change, or writing a shopping list,” said Minister Dover. “When children take part in these types of activities, they learn that reading, writing and using numbers are fun and valued activities. As a result, they are more likely to develop literacy skills at an early age.”
The Department is also making parent information available online on how children learn to read.
“Reading is the foundation for all learning and it begins with family literacy in the home. The more a child is supported to read at home, the better chance they will have at achieving early success in school,” said Minister Dover. “The new brochures support parents in their important role to help their children learn and develop a love of reading.”
The brochures cover four topics: how a child develops as a reader; how parents can help a child learn to read; how the teacher helps a child learn to read; and how parents can monitor a child’s reading.
The brochures were developed by the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Atlantic Canada Education Foundation. They are now available on the Department of Education Web site at http://www.gov.pe.ca/education/index.php3 .