December 14, 2021 - A dozen Manassas City Public School families re
cently completed “Family Stories,” a seven-week family literacy program aimed at engaging parents and helping them establish a family reading routine. This was the first time MCPS has utilized The Latino Family Literacy Project’s bilingual curriculum. Over the course of the program, parents met weekly at the Georgetown South Community Center to discuss bilingual books and learn strategies that encourage their children to find joy in reading. After having much success with the pilot program, MCPS plans to provide more opportunities for families to participate in the spring.
Family Stories is intended for elementary school families with discussed books ranging from grade 1 through grade 4 reading levels. Each book used in the program reflected Latino families’ experiences and were bilingual to help both parents and children practice and learn English vocabulary. Each week, parents took a new book home to read with their family as well as grammar worksheets. Parents also created family trees, discussed traditions and established goals they had for their families.
At the end of the program, participants received a certificate of completion and were encouraged to keep up the good work.
The program was sponsored by the MCPS English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department. ESOL Specialist Laura Perez-Ruiz, VPI Early Learning Coordinator and Community Counselor Sheyma Bautista and Preschool Teacher Diana Reyes Prudencio facilitated the weekly lessons.
Many other community organizations and members also contributed toward the program. Members of the Rotary Club of Manassas volunteered and students offered childcare for parents during lessons and Debbie Jones, president and CEO of Prince William Chamber of Commerce, coordinated food donations. Additionally, Officer TJ Rodriguez of the Manassas City Police Department attended each of the classes.
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