University News
Latino Literacy Issues Presentation at WIU April 4
March 21, 2007
MACOMB, IL -- Less than 25 percent of Latino 17-year-olds can read at the skill level necessary for success in college and the increasingly high-tech workplace, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
On Wednesday, April 4 at Western Illinois University, Veronica P. Goei (GO-ee), executive director of Estrella Family Services in San Jose, CA, will discuss the roles of parents -- particularly Latino parents -- in creating a literate community of readers and storytellers
Goei's presentation, which is open free to the public, will be held at 6 p.m. in Horrabin Hall 44 on the WIU-Macomb campus. In her previous role as executive director of Grail Family Services in San Jose, Goei developed several successful literacy programs that involve Latino parents in their children's reading development.
According to Janice Welsch, English professor emeritus and member of Western's Expanding Cultural Diversity Project, Goei will discuss the After School Literacy Program which focuses on reading fluency, reading comprehension and listening comprehension for first through third graders. She will also present the Léeme (Read to Me) Early Literacy Program, which emphasizes oral language skills for pre-school children.
"When evaluated, both programs proved valuable. Ninety percent of first through third grade students in the After School Literacy Program significantly increasing their reading fluency, while 60 percent of the children in Léeme program strengthened their knowledge of print concepts," Welsch explained.
In addition to explaining these literacy programs, Goei will discuss Scholastic's National Lee y Seras (Read and You Will Be) Early Literacy Initiative and will explore how Latino family and community strengths ground the program. She will also talk about storytelling and its power as a tool parents can adopt to further their children's learning experiences.
Goei, a graduate of Harvard University's Strategic Perspective in Nonprofit Management Program, is a leader in community organizations and childcare. She earned her bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of Chile and has developed curricula in parenting and adult education, as well as in early literacy and cultural diversity. In 2006, she was selected to participate in the Hewlett Packard Nonprofit Leadership Initiative.
Goei's visit is sponsored by The Expanding Cultural Diversity Project, the College of Education and Human Services and the department of educational and interdisciplinary studies. Goei will also be meeting with the Latino community in Beardstown (IL) Tuesday, April 3.
For more information, contact Gloria Delany-Barmann at GA-Delaney-Barmann@wiu.edu, Carla Paciotto at C-Paciotta@wiu.edu or Welsch at JR-Welsch@wiu.edu.
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Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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