The Editor, Sir:

Martin Henry's article in The Sunday Gleaner (April 6) 'New Focus on Literacy', was indeed appropriate for the start of 'Reading Week 2008, Mr Henry focused on what the Ministry of Education and teachers should and can do to improve literacy, and I wholeheartedly agree with most of what he outlined. There is, however, one aspect, one focus of literacy development that he failed to highlight: the importance of parental involvement.

Parents are a central part of any literacy programme. The role of parents in literacy development begins from a child is in the womb. Did you know that reading to a child in the womb helps to develop literacy?

Children will learn

If reading to a child in the womb helps, imagine what reading to them and in front of them outside the womb can do. Do you remember being taught how to read? Do children really need to be taught how to read? Believe it or not, many researchers suggest that it is not necessary to teach reading. Once the opportunities are present children will learn. Learning to read and write early is a natural process when learning readiness is in place and a reading friendly environment is created.

I believe in solutions, and saying that parental involvement is important for literacy development is good but would not be good enough if I ended this letter without presenting practical ways in which parents can aid the literacy-development process.

1) Read to children every day. It motivates them to read.

2) Draw children's attention to environmental print - street signs, writings on snack bags.

3) Create a word wall - any wall in the house, a door or the refrigerator can be used. Words and more words tells children that words are vital, interesting and worth exploring and knowing.

4) Buy books for gifts, not just toys.

5) Donate books to your child's class or drop them off at Western Union outlets as advertised.

I am, etc.,

TENNA A. MRR

litracyadocat@gmail.com

Kingston 17

Via Go-Jamaica