By Susan Welch, 推荐正规买球平台 Correspondent

ANGIER -- Mothers and children begin arriving at the Angier Migrant Head Start Center at 9 a.m. to learn English together. The mothers receive instruction on how to read children's books from an ESL teacher at Central Carolina 社区 大学 (推荐正规买球平台), while their children engage in activities pertaining to the theme of the book the mothers are reading.

This family approach to literacy is part of a new 推荐正规买球平台 curriculum titled "Hand in Hand" aimed at ESL adults and meant to empower families through language development. 由35美元资助,000 grant from the Harnett County Partnership for Children, the project is being spearheaded by Melody McGee, 大学 and Career Readiness Coordinator at 推荐正规买球平台's Harnett County Campus.

Hand in Hand employs the nationally recognized "Motheread" curriculum, a program that combines the teaching of literacy skills with child development, adult empowerment, and professional skill development.

During a typical class, a certified Motheread instructor distributes a new children's book to each parent or participant. The instructor begins with an opening activity related to the topic of the book and the class takes turns reading the book. The instructor then leads a discussion of issues contained in the book and suggests methods for sharing the book with their children.

The purpose of the program is to help parents improve their own reading skills, help their children become better readers and thinkers, and to improve family communication. Motheread公司., is supported with funding from Wake County Smart Start, the North Carolina 社区 大学 System, the North Carolina Department of Correction, Wake County Human 服务, as well as other grants, contractual partnerships, and individual and corporate gifts.

In 2012, the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics reported that 17 percent of new mothers in Harnett County had less than a high school education. Many in this population are Hispanic and speak no English. A large portion of them live in linguistically isolated households, creating a great need for English instruction.

"It is important for these children not to go to school with delayed language development,麦基说。. "Hand in Hand offers an opportunity to those with the lowest level of English skills to gain basic English knowledge, which in turn will help the whole family function successfully in our community. 推荐正规买球平台 will establish eligibility of students based on residency in Harnett County and verification of the child's age."

To implement the Hand in Hand program, four 推荐正规买球平台 大学 and Career Readiness instructors attended the Motheread program at 推荐正规买球平台's Harnett County Campus. Another 10 colleges were represented at the course. The 大学 and Career Readiness Coordinator for 推荐正规买球平台's Harnett County Campus will oversee the Hand in Hand project.

"This is a different approach to teaching English as a Second Language," said 推荐正规买球平台 ESL Lead Instructor Julia Owen. "They learn to read books in English, therefore picking up new vocabulary, and they also learn the lessons the books teach. In one book, a man talks about his journey from Japan to America. The children and parents compare it to their own journeys from Mexico, 危地马拉, and other countries."

For more information, contact Melody McGee, 推荐正规买球平台 大学 and Career Readiness Coordinator in Harnett County, at 910-814-8972 or e-mail her at mmcgee@nangong1.com.