Literacy Back Packs

The purpose of AEMP Literacy Back-Packs is to provide Standard English Learners with access to books and to engage parents in children’s early literacy development. AEMP home literacy backpacks contain collections of activities and culturally relevant literature aligned with Open Court themes. The materials within the bags encourage parents and children to read books and do related activities together in a relaxed, informal fashion. In a study of a home literacy bag program for prekindergarten and kindergarten children conducted by Barbour (1999), home literacy bags:

(1) provided all families with access to books, including those who had not been involved in classroom or school-based activities;

(2) encouraged school/family partnerships in promoting children’s language and literacy acquisition;

(3) encouraged parents to view themselves as teachers of their own children

(4) helped parents learn more about their children as learners, and experience the positive influence of their own participation and interest; and;

(5) prompted some families to establish regular reading routines.

AEMP’s goal is to increase children’s literacy acquisition through providing children with continual access to high quality, culturally relevant, personally interesting literature, and by encouraging and supporting family participation in children’s literacy acquisition.

---

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AEMP PROGRAM CONTACT:
Noma LeMoine Ph.D., Director (noma.lemoine@lausd.net)
Programs for Standard English Learners
Academic English Mastery Program
333 Beaudry, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Instructional Support Services, 25th Floor, Room-131
PHONE (213) 241-3340 FAX: (213) 241-8495