Reasons for Success of Reading Together®
- Meets a real need felt by parents and teachers to support children's/teenagers' 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 effectively with parents/whānau and children.
- Non-threatening, enjoyable, activity-based workshops.
- Works across a range of:
» socio-economic, cultural and ethnic groups (including settings in which parents are not confident speakers of English)
» child and parental literacy levels
» age levels (5-15 year olds)
» contexts (e.g. parents/whānau helping at home, volunteers helping at school i.e. parents/adults and/or senior students) - No cost for parents.
- Time commitment relatively low:
» for parents: 1 hour 15 minutes per workshop, 4 workshops over 7 weeks, plus 15 minutes 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, professional associations, community members/groups and other educators throughout New Zealand.
- Reading Together® is based on understandings from the following areas of educational research and theory:
» reading and learning to read
» family processes and children's literacy learning
» partnerships between schools, families and communities