Pat Golding and Miriam Weadick -contact
At DALC we have developed and extended our Family Learning programmes to include
- Family Learning Programme
- Family After School Project
- Family Learning Programme
Parents are now recognised as the primary educators of their children yet many parents lack the confidence in their own literacy skills and are unfamiliar with the primary school curriculum and how it works. Our programme focuses on
- Developing oral language skills,
- Developing numeracy skills
- Books and storytelling,
- Recognising and helping the emergent reader
- Understanding the Primary School Curriculum
Over the course of the 8-10 weeks parents often raise other issues around parenting etc. As in any Family Learning Programme, development is ongoing and designed around the needs of each group.
Read to Succeed
Reading to Children Theory and Practice
A thirteen-week programme accredited by the Open College network of Northern Ireland. The course combines practical skills and experience of reading stories to children with knowledge and understanding of the underpinning rationale and theory.
Required tasks for OCN accreditation:
- One observed story reading session
- Participation in course discussion
- Course work assignment combining discussion and analysis of theory and practice.
Theory
Examination of the importance of looking at picture books and listening to stories. The focus will be on how this can have a positive effect on a child's development and subsequent literacy achievement.
Practical work with books
Investigation and examination of the range of children's books available. What makes a story interesting to children, to adults? Opening up the world to a child through story.
Developing story reading and story telling techniques
Techniques explained and examples shown. Explanation and discussion of props and activities linked to books
Learning to read
Discussion and information about how children learn to read. Relevant sections of the Primary School Curriculum explained and discussed.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested in reading or telling stories to children
Parents,
Carers,
Grandparents,
Class room assistants,
Crèche workers
You don't need any previous experience or qualifications and the course is interesting and fun.