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Reading matters
Alu Like pinpoints three
elementary schools that
have the greatest need
for literacy programs
Successfully negotiating the maze of modern society starts with literacy, and while many of us take the ability to read for granted, there are others who never grasp this building block of education.
Adults with low literacy skills lack the foundation they need to find and keep decent jobs, support their children's education and participate actively in civic life, according to the National Institute for Literacy. Between 46 and 51 percent of the United States adult population, or approximately 94 million people, according to the National Adult Literacy Survey, lack basic skills to function successfully in our society.
"We learn to read and read to learn," said Kaala Elementary School Principal Ted Fisher, who believes children should be reading at grade level when they begin third grade. Instead, he says he sees far too many fifth-grade students reading at a first-grade level.
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"It really is a challenge," he said. But it's one thing to accept the status quo, and another to improve the situation. Starting next month, the school is launching a family-based literacy program with the help of Alu Like, a private, nonprofit service organization that assists native Hawaiians in their efforts to achieve social and economic self-sufficiency.
"They are targeting Hawaiian families but intend to help all families," said Fisher. Twenty-nine percent of the student body at Kaala Elementary is Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian.
Alu Like identified three elementary schools with the greatest need for a literacy program: Aiea, Kaala and Makakilo. Data from a 2002 test cycle indicated that Kaala's economically disadvantaged students scored significantly lower on the No Child Left Behind reading and math tests than other students at the school or in the general population.
THE THREE cornerstones of the Kaala program are literacy support, cultural awareness and ohana-focused activities. Community support and participation is the goal of "2nd Saturday Reading in the Park," in which three read-aloud mats will be set up and entertainment will be presented at Kaala Park. Every child who attends will be able to take home a book, Fisher said.
Literacy activities for keiki and teacher-parent discussions are on the agenda for "Ohana Nights" events focusing on providing specific skills for different grade levels each month, which isn't restricted to the immediate community.
"We are trying to get the Wahiawa community involved," said Fisher, who adds that the Rotary Club will be helping, and some schools and other organizations are considering hosting events.
Community hosts assist in the planning of special themes, decorations, activities, cultural entertainment and promotional materials such as fliers and posters. They also conduct community outreach through telephone calls.
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"We are looking for groups in Central Oahu committed to these issues," said Reshela DuPuis, library program specialist for Alu Like's Native Hawaiian Library. Anyone who wants to help can get involved. Parents and children under the age of 5 can join a book club with story time, playtime and a book van where they can borrow books. The program gets parents into the school in a meaningful way, said DuPuis.
Programs like this break down the barriers between parents and teachers, allowing parents to ask questions in an informal, non-intimidating setting. They can ask general questions at support workshops like, "How do I get my child to go to bed?" said Fisher.
"Organizations can interact with the families and make them aware of the services out there," Fisher said. Parent Literacy workshops will also help parents learn strategies to support their child's literacy.
"We believe that involving parents is the last piece in a very complicated puzzle in the education of children," said Fisher. "The program really helps us work with both the parents and the kids," he said.
Noting an abundance of parent involvement in the Mililani community, he said, "If we had the same level of involvement, we think our schools would be more equal."
"Research shows that when parents are more involved, students will do well in school," added Nora Kaneshige, a first-grade teacher at Kaala Elementary.
Statistics are frightening, according to Fisher. "Kids who are eligible for free breakfast and lunch are normally 18 months behind developmentally. Everyone is not on the same playing field."
Some of the parents don't have positive school experiences, he said, adding that "one of the best things parents can do is to speak positively about school."
No matter what socioeconomic background people come from, they want better for the kids. "We are trying to show them how to do it the right way," said Kaneshige. "It's a pyramid effect. The community should be supporting the children. Only then can we have higher expectations of them."
In the case of Kaala's growing population of Pacific Island students, the children often acquire English language skills before the parents, she said, noting that 50 percent of the children in her class are ESL (English as a second language) students.
"One of the main goals of the program is to strengthen the entire family unit. We can build the parent's literacy and show them how to help the child," Kaneshige said.
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