Voices of the Children
Learning Lab’s Preschoolers & Parents as Partners (PPP) Family Literacy program is dedicated to breaking the cycle of illiteracy within families and helping families reach lasting self-sufficiency. Students enrolled in PPP are functionally illiterate adults and their birth to six year old children. Last school year Clay Lewis visited the Learning Lab with his 6th grade class. Clay was very moved by the experience and wanted to do something to help these families. When one of Clay’s assignments was to choose a community issue to study, he chose literacy. As Clay wrote:
“My issue about the community is adults not being literate. If parents don’t know how to read they cannot read to their children. . . . By teaching adults that can’t read the ability to read they can get a normal job and they can read to their kids and help them in school.”
Although challenging for an 11-year-old, Clay contacted the Learning Lab to explain his project and wish to volunteer. He wrote a business plan which he presented to Monique Smith, Family Literacy Coordinator, and followed through on all proposed activities which included:
* Volunteering in the Learning Lab’s preschool classroom to read and help with classroom activities during four 2-hour class times. All of Clay’s volunteer tutoring was completed during days off from school.One of the things he enjoyed most about the experience was working with preschool children of so many various ethic backgrounds and countries such as American, African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Hispanic, and Eastern European. It was wonderful to have such a bright, giving young man provide positive experiences for these children.
*Clay worked hard to raise money and receive donations of items for take-home literacy kits for the children. This included standing up in front of his church congregation to explain his project and ask for donations of items like books, scissors, crayons, pencils, and stickers and/or monetary donations for the kits. He explained his project to friends and relatives and secured more financial donations. He added some of his own money earned by doing chores and babysitting. In all, Clay earned enough money to make about 18 high-quality literacy bags that these low-income children could take home and keep.
In addition to following through on his business plan, Clay helped at the Learning Lab stuffing donor envelopes. He made a presentation to his school, parents and teachers about literacy. Part of this activity was the skit he produced about a job applicant who was turned away because of poor literacy skills, who then attended the Learning Lab and was later able to secure the job.
It is often difficult for adults to understand the issues that surround low-income, functionally illiterate parents and how it affects their personal lives, the community and most importantly their children’s chances for success. Clay showed a remarkable grasp of the big picture, and most remarkably for an 11 year old, put his understanding into words and actions which not only helped Learning Lab families but helped many in our community better understand the issues of illiteracy.