3RD - 8TH GRADE PARENT TITLE 1 LITERACY TRAINING

Monday, June 8, 2009

By Mary Gricus

On June 8, 2009, District 113A reading specialists Renee Christ and Ann Walker presented a literacy training for parents of students in grades 3-8. The training was funded by the 2009 Title 1 grant. The purpose of this federal grant is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on state academic achievement standards and assessments. Since parent involvement plays an important role in students’ achievement, parent training sessions like this one are designed to provide parents with knowledge and skills that they can use to bolster their children’s learning.
Approximately 30 parents attended the evening training which offered strategies and tips for parents to support the development of their children’s reading comprehension and fluency at home. From learning how to increase the effectiveness of reading aloud with their children to gaining ideas for helping their children to select appropriate books, parents found the training session to be very worthwhile. “I learned that reading aloud is still beneficial to older children, and I will do more of this with my 7th grader,” noted one Old Quarry parent. A Central School parent commented, “Now I will be able to go on the Lexile website and find books for my child.”

At the training, Gina Rodewald, principal of Central School, also distributed the district’s draft parent involvement plan and parent/school compact. Mrs. Rodewald invited parents to review the plan and compact and make suggestions for improvements. After the plan and compact are updated, parents of students in District 113A’s Title 1 summer programs at Central and Old Quarry will receive a copy of the final plan and compact for their signature.

3rd - 8th GRADE PARENTS INVITED TO TITLE 1 LITERACY TRAINING