1. Meets a real need felt by parents and teachers to support children's/teenagers' reading, especially those who are struggling.
2. Programme has a specific focus i.e. Reading (recognised by all parents as being important), and specific ways of helping at home.
3. Voluntary involvement (since 1982) of keen, capable teachers and librarians who work effectively with parents/whānau and children.
4. Non-threatening, enjoyable, activity-based workshops.
5. Works across a range of: » socio-economic, cultural and ethnic groups (including settings in which parents are not confident speakers of English) » child and parental literacy levels » age levels (5-15 year olds) » contexts (e.g. parents/whānau helping at home, volunteers helping at school i.e. parents/adults and/or senior students)
6. Low cost for schools, no cost for parents.
7. Time commitment relatively low: » for parents: 1 hour 15 minutes per workshop, 4 workshops over 7 weeks, plus 15 minutes 4 or 5 times a week helping child(ren) at home » for Workshop Leaders: some time required initially, but less time once familiar with programme
8. Support and involvement of principals, teachers, librarians, professional associations, community members/groups and other educators throughout New Zealand.
9. Reading Together is based on understandings from the following areas of educational research and theory: » reading and learning to read » family processes and children’s literacy learning » partnerships between schools, families and communities