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The Stories Together project was developed to enable families in the Manukau Family Literacy Programmes to share learning about literature.
Through integrated planning (the adult lecturer, the school teachers and the early childhood centre teacher), the adults in the programme are introduced to a book that is also being introduced to their child in his/her school or early childhood centre. The book forms part of the PACTT sessions (Parent and Child Time Together), and also becomes the springboard for other shared activities.
In the first year of the Stories Together project, the Correspondence School provided materials for parents to use with their child as part of the project; and the National Library supported the project by ensuring that multiple copies of the book being studied were available in the school library and at the early childhood centre. The first two books introduced to families at Rowandale in 2004 were: O Hogwash, Sweet Pea, and The Christmas Caravan. Guests were invited to support parents in developing skills in story-telling, and to provide inspiration about the art of illustration.
Since that time, Stories Together has included a range of New Zealand children's fiction and non-fiction. Outcomes sought from the project are improved literacy levels for both adults and children, improved relationships between home and school, and improved access to literature and resources for families. COMET is seeking financial support to expand the pilot project to the other family literacy sites.
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