Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador

Get Ready to Read: Baie Verte Peninsula Family Resource Program, “Every Buddies Club House”

Project Start/End Dates: March 2009 – July 2009 (26 weeks)

Initial Project Description: The Get Ready to Read program is designed by the Baie Verte Peninsula Family Resource Program for children age four to six. The goal of this project is to increase the learning abilities and school readiness of children while teaching parents the value of early literacy and its benefits on future academic success. The program was created in association with schoolteachers and principles, speech language pathologists, public health, etc., to establish a strong base for reading and early literacy. It includes a variety of teaching methods such as:

  • Sound sorting
  • Oral language development
  • Cooking and tasting
  • Mini field trips
  • Interviews
  • Vocabulary
  • Math
  • Art
  • Music
  • and more…

In addition to the learning benefits of this program, it also:

  • Brings the family closer together
  • Builds positive self-esteem in children
  • Increases confidence
  • Broadens knowledge

Project Outcomes: This program took place over a period of 26 weeks with 17 children participating. Evaluation was based on parental feedback forms and questionnaires. The program was described as “excellent” by participating parents and was well received by all those involved. The children learned various skills such as listening, thinking, rhyming and memorization, and a number of learning tools demonstrated throughout the program were proven to be effective. Participating parents stated that children are now more prepared for school than they would have been without the program. Parents have also affirmed that great improvements have been made in the literacy skills of their children as a direct result of participating in this program. In future sessions they plan to also include some print material. As well, the Baie Verte Peninsula Family Resource Program plans to design another literacy based program with a focus on the alphabet titled ‘ABC’s and More”.

Developed and hosted by NALD in collaboration with Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills.