What are the reasons for the programme's success and wider implementation?
- Meets a real need felt by parents and teachers to support children's reading, especially those who are struggling
- Programme has a specific focus i.e. Reading (recognised by all parents as being important), and specific ways of helping at home
- Voluntary involvement (since 1982) of keen, capable teachers and librarians who work sensitively with parents/whānau and children
- Non-threatening, enjoyable, activity-based workshops
- Works across a range of
» socio-economic and ethnic groups (including immersion settings and parents for whom English is a second language)
» child and parental literacy levels
» age levels (5-15 year olds)
» contexts (e.g. parents/whānau helping at home, parents/adult volunteers helping at school)
- Low cost for schools, no cost for parents
- Time commitment relatively low
» for parents: 1hr 15mins per workshop, 4 workshops over 7 weeks, plus 15mins 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
- Support and involvement of principals, teachers, librarians, Resource Teachers, literacy educators (including adult literacy), Reading Associations and other professional associations
- Content and processes (including setting up) of programme have sound theoretical and research base in
» literacy education
» school/home partnerships
» adult education