'Learning Together' grant to aid family literacy

The Adult Learning Center of Orofino has received a $5,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to work with Orofino Elementary School to develop a "Learning Together" program for kindergarten and first grade families for the 2006-2007 school year.

The program will be designed to provide information and guidance to families regarding the skills that kindergarten and first grade children are expected to learn in language arts. As a child becomes more able to use and understand language, they become more skilled at reading, writing, thinking, reasoning, and posing questions. Adult family members will benefit by improving their understanding of the child's learning process and school expectations.

This program will support the work of the kindergarten and first grade teachers and the reading intervention specialist, Carrie Brooks. Kristen Victorine is the lead teacher for the school on this project. Sandra Goffinet, Adult Learning Center director, will be working with teachers and parents to research and develop materials and parent workshops.

One objective of the "Learning Together" Program is to use the K-1 Idaho Achievement Standards in Language Arts and the Open Court reading materials to develop a guide for parents and volunteers about K-1 learning expectations. This guide will incorporate teacher's ideas and be enhanced by research into similar programs for families.

Another objective of the "Learning Together" program is to recruit and orient volunteers/parents for assistance listening to kindergarten and first grade children read at school. Also, the program will be able to purchase some books or educational materials, as advised by classroom teachers, for the children's home use. Different teachers see different needs for their students.

"Learning Together" will be open to other possibilities to help families help children be successful in school. The Adult Learning Center appreciates the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation and Connie Robison, Orofino branch manager, with this family literacy program.

Photo: Orofino Wells Fargo Manager Connie Robison presents a check for $5,000 to Charlene Douglas, Adult Literacy Center Board chair, for the "Learning Together" program involving the Learning Center and Orofino Elementary School. Shown from left are Bob Stiffler, Orofino Elementary School principal; Robison, Douglas, and Sandra Goffinet, Adult Learning Center director.