Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

November is Family Literacy Month

October 24, 2013 Dear Program Directors, I am pleased to announce that Governor Patrick has issued a

Proclamation declaring November 2013 as Family Literacy Month. This marks the 17th year that we are acknowledging and celebrating the important role that families play in their children's literacy development. Please see ESE Commissioner Chester's memo encouraging schools, libraries, adult learning centers, parent support programs, social service agencies, and local businesses to collaborate in providing organized activities during Family Literacy Month. I likewise encourage you to work with your community partners to conduct activities for parents and children that support children's learning. Many local libraries, for example, are collaborating with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to host November events in celebration of family literacy. I am also pleased to report that the Secretary of Education, Matthew Malone, is scheduled to visit the ABE program at the Chelsea Public Schools' Intergenerational Literacy Program. On November 20, we anticipate he will visit the children's room and then facilitate a conversation with parents about their goals and how the program helps them achieve those goals. Last but not least, family literacy month provides an opportunity to engage your students in discussions about key family issues. For example, students might read articles and do follow up activities like conducting a poll and graphing the results or comparing and contrasting the results by different cultures. Here are several links to articles your students may find interesting.

Do Children Make Parents Happy? (Source: The Times in Plain English)
A Good Bedtime Story (Source: The Times in Plain English)
Helping Parents Learn About Common Standards (Source: Education Week)
Survey Finds Half of Parents Struggle With Their Children's Homework (Source: Education Week)
Why Parenting is More Important Than Schools (Source: Time Ideas)
The Key to Smarter Kids: Talk to Them (Source: Time Ideas)
Improving Literacy Would Boost Our Economic Outlook (Source: Houston Chronicle article written by Emily Kirkpatrick, VP of the National Center for Family Literacy and John Ujda, Chief Literacy Officer of Better World Books)

Happy reading! Anne Serino
MA ABE State Director

Last Updated: October 28, 2013