Family Literacy Page 19
Program Development Materials

From the U.S.A.:

Start Smart: A Family Learning Program:
A Handbook for Practitioners (1992)

Written and compiled by: Rebecca Bauen
Published by: Seattle Public Library

The Start Smart program is designed for parents who wish to improve their reading and writing skills while modeling their interest in learning for their children. It is based on a model of community-based education influenced by the adult educator Paulo Freire. Start Smart encourages both adults and children to value the importance of their own stories and is based on the idea that it is just as important to learn to tell your own story as it is to read stories from books.

Start Smart takes place in community-based literacy programs. These sites were chosen because the parents are already enrolled in these programs, and can best introduce library services to people where they are.

During Start Smart, a children’s librarian and an adult facilitator plan programs to encourage family involvement in learning activities. Families attend this program together for six to eight weeks. Each series includes time for families to listen to stories, tell their own stories, make books, read together, write poetry, and visit the library. Each session includes a parent learning group which takes place while children participate in learning activities. While the basic format is the same for each session, the content varies based on the ages of the children and the interests of the parents.

The Start Smart package includes a description of the program and examples of family, parent and children learning activities. Also included are sample lessons and handouts based on themes such as learning, motivating children to read, helping children in school, self-esteem, and a parent booklist.