Grant brings free literacy program to area kids and parents

EAST LIVERPOOL -- North Elementary School is offering a free literacy program to help get parents involved with their kids' educations. Taco 'Bout Literacy will be Wednesday and Thursday evenings Pre-K through first grade parents and kids attend Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. Second through fourth grade parents and kids attend Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the elementary school.

After a non-conventional last few years for many kids due to the pandemic, a program like this could be useful to families, said kindergarten teacher Brittney Marino. "A lot of the students who may not have come to school for those few years or were at home learning, this is their first year back in school so it's a great opportunity for us to close a lot of learning gaps they may have because of that and get everybody on track," she said.

Materials available will be targeted toward each child's specific need, beyond just grade-level appropriate materials. "We are giving them specific activities for their child," Marino said. "All their teachers have filled out surveys to tell us where the kids are currently at and what skills they need to work on so it gives us an opportunity to not only tell them information but to actually demonstrate, show them how to practice at home, ways to help their kids, and we are providing all the materials for all of the activities that they see."

Kindergarten teacher Carly Warnock said parents will get a reader profile specific to their child and tell them where they need to go. "So if it's phonics that they're going to, that room, it will tell them which skill level they need to go to and that will help also to not just give everyone the same grade level materials, but to really differentiate for each student's specific needs," she said. "It's targeted."

Marino said most of the program is funded by a grant. "The program is Together Teachers and Parents Partnering and this falls under that umbrella," Marino said. "We received a grant for parent involvement so that is how all this is being funded, to get parents involved. It's just money for us to use to get families involved in school."

She said they also had over $1,000 in contributions from community partners. "So local businesses or individuals that were donating," Marino said. "And that all went towards prizes for the families that they can win that night, they all get free tickets when they come, and they can enter to win any of those prize baskets. They all have books or literacy games or family-centered items."

A bus route is available throughout the district for anybody that needs it. There will be free tacos from Fresh on Fifth. And, so parents can focus on learning, free child care will be available. "Sunshine Party Rental is bringing a blow up slide," Warnock said. "That will be in the gym along with our art teacher Mrs. Talbot is providing a craft in the gym for all the kids. Our High School Leadership Team is coming down to volunteer their time to help with child care in the gym and just to help entertain the kids so parents can be kid free and really focus on learning ways they can help their students at home."

And, hoping kids are thinking ahead to summer reading, Marino said Kim Blevins from the Carnegie Public Library will be there. "She'll do a brief demonstration and talk to the kids about the summer reading program that will be starting soon," Marino said.

Warnock said the materials are so nice, she would like some of the items herself. She said the activities are fun. "We have so many awesome activities the teachers have come up with and they're all fun so it's not like pulling teeth to get the children to do this at home," she said. "They're game-based and hands-on."

Anyone with questions can call the school at (330)386-8772.

llehman@mojonews.com