Even Start Family Literacy Program

English classes for parents are offered 3 days a week, by highly qualified, experienced teachers.  Supplemental, leveled literacy instruction is also provided in small groups.  Students are placed into basic or intermediate English classes.  The teachers use a variety of strategies to provide practice in written and spoken language.

Information about effective parenting is incorporated into many of our English lessons.  There is also a dedicated parenting class each day. Topics include positive discipline, literacy development, EL instruction, special education, nutrition, academic vocabulary, parental involvement, instructional technology, accessing community and school resources and many others. Guest speakers often provide important information for parents in our community.

Once a week, the parents in Even Start participate in a hands on activity in their child’s class.  This may include an activity based on a read-aloud, an art project, music and dance, outdoor play, or cooking together.  Parents who only have school aged children spend this time working on APS curriculum activities.  This may include iPad apps, math vocabulary, practicing for parent teacher conferences, and much more.

Working on language and fine motor skills with an art project during PACT.

While the parents study each day, their young children between the ages of 1 and  4 receive high quality, structured education on site.  The early childhood staff offers a variety of developmentally appropriate activities to encourage language development, literacy skills and family involvement.