KCBS Cover Story: Vallejo School Promotes Family Literacy Program
VALLEJO (KCBS) – The new school year has begun in Vallejo and officials are hoping a new program will help build the bond between parents and their children.
Dan Mini Elementary School is launching a Latino Family Literacy Program this year, to help parents bond with their children through books.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
"A child's first teacher is the parent. And a child's first language is the language in which they feel the most confident," said Dan Mini Principal Mary Dybdahl.
Inside an old portable classroom at the school, bilingual tutor Norma Gutierrez introduces herself to half a dozen mothers who want a greater connection with their children.
"It's a very great thing to do, to introduce new books and materials," she said.
The literacy program just started so it isn't known just how successful it will be. But Principal Dybdahl said there is definitely a cultural aspect to the literacy program.
"Children seeing themselves in the stories. So it might be like a family album, which is one of the main texts, showing this family and the things that they do," said Dybdahl.
If the program is successful, Dybdahl said she is hoping it might encourage Latino parents to enroll in an English as a Second Language course to help further their literary competency.
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