Tandem Community Literacy Specialist Jairo Güiza leads a group of 9 Literacy Champions in training at the Children’s Council in San Francisco.
Building upon the successes of last year’s pilot program, Tandem’s Literacy Champions parent leadership program is now in full swing. Training classes are now in session in San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties, with Oakland classes starting soon. As part of Tandem’s commitment to building capacity within the community to support young children’s early learning, the Literacy Champions program provides adults with the tools and training they need to become agents of change within their communities by bringing knowledge and free resources to families within their own neighborhoods.
The classroom is filled with chatter, laughing, and excitement. One by one, students fill plates with fruit and bagels and find a seat near their friends. The instructor watches the clock, answers questions about the day’s agenda, and prepares for the three-hour class. Today’s topic is all about bilingualism.
Tandem Community Literacy Specialist Jairo Güiza asks the class to gather in groups of three to discuss their thoughts and experiences with bilingualism and bilingual children. Over half of the participants in today’s class are bilingual – speaking both Spanish and English.
“Being bilingual can bring greater opportunities,” one participant offers.
Another participant shares, “Raising children in bilingual schools is harder. We parents have to work more.”
“Being bilingual is a way to learn about and preserve your home language,” says another.
“Sometimes when you’re immersed into a classroom that doesn’t speak your language, you will feel left behind.”
Future Literacy Champions discuss bilingualism as part of a six-module training course to become certified in Tandem programming.
Following the discussion, the class is led through a presentation about the myths and truths of bilingualism. Research shows that it can take five to seven years to master a second language. For children, it can take two years to reach a conversational level in a second language. More importantly, though, having a strong foundation in their home language can make learning a new language easier for children. “We all believe that bilingualism is a good thing – it’s a strength. And there are many ways to support a bilingual child,” Jairo offers.
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During the three-hour class, participants engage with the content through group discussions, interactive activities, and practice presentations on the content they’ve learned in previous sessions. Soon, the nine women in the class will receive their certificate of completion and begin the ten service hours they must complete to become a certified Tandem Literacy Champion. Many of the participants are excited to begin working with families in their communities and already have ideas about how to engage families in Tandem’s programming – by sharing books and knowledge at community events; demonstrating interactive Read Aloud techniques at their child’s birthday party; and sharing interactive reading tips and family engagement strategies with their church members and mother’s clubs.
Each Literacy Champion receives giveaway books to share with families in their communities.
As the Literacy Champions begin their community service hours, they will be supported by a network of Tandem staff members. Tandem Community Literacy Specialists are available to assist Literacy Champions in preparing, planning, and providing resources to help Literacy Champions accomplish their goals. “Whatever we can envision, we can do!” Jairo assures. “We want to support each other in gaining the confidence to share your passion for early learning.”
The class wrapped up with plans to meet up soon to share more ideas, continue conversations about bilingualism, and check in on service hour progress. For many Literacy Champions in training, the idea of sharing their knowledge with families in their own neighborhoods (and in their home languages) is exciting, a bit nerve-wracking, but also a way to encourage other parents and boost their confidence as their child’s first teacher.
“I want to learn strategies to motivate kids to read – especially my kids!” said Miriam, a class participant. “I know it’s important to share that parents are already doing things to help their children read. As Literacy Champions, we are here to touch on all the beautiful things parents are doing to help their children grow and learn.”
If you are interested in becoming a Literacy Champion in Alameda County, please contact J. Jimenez at j@tandembayarea.org or call 510-394-1947. Classes begin soon and space is limited – call or email to sign up today! The Literacy Champions program is available at no cost to anyone interested in supporting families with children ages 0-5 to share books together on a daily basis.
