FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM
Project LIFT (Literacy Instruction for Families Together) is a Family Literacy Program for family caregivers with children under the age of 5 whose first language is not English. The program fosters inter-generational learning by providing family caregivers with English language and life skills alongside their children. These skills in turn serve them as life long learners, parents and members of their community. The Family Literacy Program also prepares children for success in school and life by providing them with pre-literacy skills and an early introduction to English.
The goal of Project LIFT is to bring education into the home by showing parents that they are their child’s primary teacher. Classes focus on building a strong parent/child relationship through educational activities that benefit the child’s learning process, helping parents better understand how a child learns, and finally promoting learning in the home. Through PACT (Parent And Child Together) time activities, adults with children under the age of five learn valuable lessons on how to help their children on the road to a successful start. In addition to PACT time, there is a separate adult class in which caregivers receive basic ELL instruction and have time to discuss parenting topics such as separation anxiety and preparing your child for Kindergarten. During this period, the children participate in a preschool class with a focus on basic English.
The PACT and preschool curriculum develops key skills and concepts for children entering Kindergarten, including:
- Hand-eye coordination and motor skills
- Language development
- Memory
- Observation
- Categorization
- Recognition of colors, numbers, shapes, and ABCs
The program is open to families with children under the age of 5 whose native language is not English. Classes are held in different locations throughout Wake County to make them more accessible to students.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
As a Student: Please contact the Family Literacy Program for more information and for a current class schedule or call Jaimie at (919) 787-5559.
As a Volunteer: The Family Literacy Program is constantly recruiting new volunteers and student interns to help with the PACT time and children’s portion of our program. Please contact Jaimie at (919) 787-5559 or jfoster@wakeliteracy.org for more information.