Parental support
Carolyn Crook
 

An innovative health-backed initiative supports parents with their child's reading as well as their behaviour. Carolyn Crook, literacy consultant at Oxford University, reports.

Spokes (Supporting Parents on Kids' Education) was created by a Department of Health initiative to support families. Funding was jointly awarded to Oxford University and the Institute of Psychiatry to develop an intervention programme to support parents with their child's reading and behaviour. The first part of the intervention consists of a 12-week parenting programme that focuses on positive play, planned ignoring of unwanted behaviour and positive reinforcement techniques.

The second part of the intervention complements the school's literacy teaching and gives parents, in a 10-week programme, information and knowledge about reading so they are more effective and confident in supporting their children's literacy development at home.

At each session there is a library of books and literacy activities that parents borrow to use with their family and return the following week in exchange for new books and games. This has proved to be immensely popular and encourages parents to see learning as fun. Parents are encouraged to 'introduce a book' to their child, prior to reading, to help provide a context and to discuss any unfamiliar words.

The Pause, Prompt and Praise technique, developed in New Zealand by Ted Glynn is an important skill which parents are taught how to use. They are taught to pause (for 5 seconds) if their child gets stuck on a word
to give the child the chance to work it out by himself. Parents initially find this hard, as the natural inclination is to help them as quickly as possible. If in this time the child cannot work out the word parents are asked to give them a prompt (or clue) which may be the picture, or related to the story's meaning. Parents are encouraged to use a wide range of clues so that children learn to use the meaning, structure and visual cues in decoding new words. After two prompts, if the child hasn't worked it out, parents give them the correct word.

Praise is vital. Parents are shown how to give specific praise related to the child's reading behaviour ie "I like the way you had a go at that word" or "Well done for using the clue to work out the word." This encourages the child to take risks when faced with new or difficult words.

Parents receive two home visits from the tutor, one session with the child present and one where the parent has made an audio recording of a home reading session. The home visit provides important individual support for parents in how to use the Pause, Prompt and Praise techniques.

By providing parents with specific suggestions to help their child tackle unfamiliar words, frustration (both parent and child) is reduced and the child is encouraged to read more. Both parents and teachers have told us that the PPP strategies really make a difference and home reading becomes a rewarding engaging experience for all.
 
 
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