Program lets parents learn English alongside their children

The Toyota Family Literacy Program teaches English to parents and also requires them to spend two hours a week in their children's classroom. This helps the parents and also helps the children do better in school. Before this, the parents couldn't even read their child's homework, now they can help them. - - Donna Poisl

by Sean Maher, Oakland Tribune

OAKLAND — It's not unusual in some Oakland communities for children to come home from school with homework their parents can't read.

Seeking to empower and educate such parents, and to demystify their children's schooling, the Toyota Family Literacy Program puts parents directly into their children's classrooms in tandem with their adult English workshops.

"The parents commit to eight hours of English as a Second Language classes each week, but they also commit to spending two hours each week in the classroom where their children are being taught, and two hours in workshops about literacy and development for children," program coordinator Cintya Molina said.
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