Response to Family Literacy: Respecting Family Ways

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This paper reflects the views a reader had after reading, Family Literacy: Respecting Family Ways. ERIC Digest No. 203 By, Brown, Bettina Lankard (1998) I firmly believe that the family and the home are the primary sources for learning the most important aspects of life. Now arithmetic or English, not even science or social studies, but morals, values, spirituality, religion, etc. The home is the prime place in which children learn to be. This is where they learn to be a human being. I also firmly believe in observational learning as the key and main part of learning. Before a child could speak, they can see the actions of their parents; they can hear the words that come out of their mouths. A child is usually with their parents for three to five years before they enter into the public schools. Those three to five years are crucial in a child’s life. Their parents have already molded and shaped many ideals and beliefs their child will subconsciously have forever. I agree with the reading in regards to the statement that, “social and cultural practices of a family are key considerations in the family literacy program.” I think that students learn best when it’s associated to prior knowledge. If an instructor or program allowed for students to learn based on the home’s cultural views, the child would more than likely understand the material better and also do better in school. I enjoyed the idea of having parents involved in the literacy process. I think this would be such a huge contribution to a child’s learning experience. In our area of Gallup, New Mexico, we are exposed to many children, whose primary language is not English. This is because English is not the primary language in the home. I expect that if we entwined the English learning process with the parents as well as the students, the students would do much better in school. I also think this
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