Small Steps to Big Dreams: A Family Literacy Celebration
Submitted by Jennifer Plagata, Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning
Submitted by Jennifer Plagata, Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning
Family literacy programs are more than schedules, lesson plans, or learning outcomes. They are about people and their stories. Newcomer families often arrive carrying both hope and hardship. They are adapting to a new language, a new culture, and new systems while caring for their children and trying to build stability.
Learning English in this context is not simply an academic goal. It is a tool for daily life. It helps parents talk to teachers, understand medical appointments, navigate grocery stores, apply for services, and be a part of their community. When English language learning is integrated into family literacy programs, it becomes practical, relevant, and empowering.
We Listen, We Learn,
We Grow Together
We Grow Together
Effective family literacy programs begin by listening. Every family is different, and their needs, schedules, and goals matter. One-on-one conversations, informal check-ins, surveys, and collaboration with community partners allow programs to understand what families truly need, not just what we assume they need.
Flexibility is key. Many families balance work, caregiving, transportation challenges, and emotional stress. Offering sessions at different times, providing childcare, and supporting transportation can make the difference between exclusion and participation. When programs adapt to families’ realities, they send a powerful message that families are welcomed and valued.
Multigenerational learning is also essential. While parents engage in English language learning, children participate in story time, crafts, and play-based activities that build early literacy skills. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds, support children’s readiness for school, and help parents feel more confident supporting learning at home.
English That Actually Makes Life Easier
Language learning is most effective when it is relatable to daily life. Purposeful content designed around learners’ goals transforms English from abstract rules into practical tools.
When facilitators understand why families joined a program, what makes them nervous, and what they hope to improve, lessons become meaningful. A parent who wants to speak with a teacher needs different skills than someone preparing for a job interview or a medical appointment. Aligning lessons with these real-world goals ensures learning is relevant and lasting.
Practical, task-based activities bring language to life. Filling out forms, practicing phone calls, reading grocery flyers, learning transportation vocabulary, and role-playing everyday conversations help families gain confidence in a supportive environment. Using real materials makes learning authentic and effective.
Cultural relevance is equally important. Programs that acknowledge and celebrate learners’ cultural backgrounds foster trust and belonging. Including familiar themes, holidays, traditions, and bilingual resources affirms identities rather than asking families to leave parts of themselves at the door. Literacy then becomes a bridge between cultures, not a barrier.
A Place Where Mistakes Are Welcome
Learning a new language can be intimidating. Fear of making mistakes, past trauma, and feelings of isolation can all affect participation. Family literacy programs thrive when they are built on patience, encouragement, and compassion.
A trauma-informed, supportive environment allows learners to take risks, ask questions, and grow at their own pace. Celebrating small successes, such as speaking up for the first time, completing a form independently, or reading a story aloud, builds confidence and self-esteem. Welcoming spaces, healthy snacks, and thoughtful details help families feel safe and valued.
Peer support is powerful. When families learn together, they realize they are not alone. Encouraging collaboration, peer mentoring, and shared activities fosters a sense of community and reduces fear of judgment.
From Learning to Belonging
Family literacy programs often serve as a gateway to broader community engagement. Guest speakers, field trips, and partnerships introduce families to local resources while providing real opportunities to practice English.
Visits to libraries, community centers, health services, and support organizations help families build familiarity and confidence. These experiences demystify systems, reduce isolation, and empower families to access support independently. Children benefit too, seeing their parents engage with learning and community life.
Strong partnerships with immigrant-serving organizations, schools, libraries, and social services extend the reach of family literacy programs. Word-of-mouth referrals, community events, and collaborative networks help ensure programs reach those who need them most.
The Power of Family Literacy: BA’s Journey
When BA arrived in Canada just over two years ago, she was pregnant and starting over with her family in a new country. Referred to our organization by a local settlement agency, she came with hope, uncertainty, and a quiet determination to build a different future for herself and her children. Her story is one powerful example of why family literacy programs matter.
Back in Afghanistan, BA grew up with culturally rooted expectations that women would become homemakers while the men provided for the family. She completed elementary school, but at just fourteen years old, her father arranged her marriage. Although she followed her family’s wishes, BA always knew she wanted more. She held onto a dream that once felt impossible: to pursue an education and one day become a lawyer.
Coming to Canada felt like her chance. BA enrolled in our family literacy program with her children, eager to learn together. Pregnancy, childcare, and family responsibilities made attending in-person English classes difficult, but she did not give up. She began studying English online while continuing to participate in part-time family literacy sessions.
Over time, BA’s English improved from a pre-literacy level to Level 3. Today, she is a mother of six and is attending a full-time online English program based in Edmonton while still joining our family literacy sessions. Her days are full, and the path ahead is challenging, but her belief in herself remains strong.
BA knows that becoming a lawyer will take time and persistence. Yet her journey already speaks volumes. Her determination, perseverance, and willingness to keep learning despite every obstacle demonstrate the power of family literacy programs to open doors, build confidence, and help families imagine futures they once thought were out of reach.
Little Wins, Big Changes
The true impact of family literacy programs cannot always be measured in numbers. It is seen in quiet moments of courage: a parent speaking up in class for the first time, a child proudly sharing a story, a family returning session after session because they feel safe and supported.
It is heard in learners’ voices when they say they feel more confident, connected, and hopeful. It is felt when families begin to see themselves not just as newcomers, but as active members of their community.
As we celebrate Family Literacy Day, we honor the families who show up, the program team who pour their hearts into this work, and the belief that learning together can change lives. Family literacy programs remind us that literacy is not just about words. It is about belonging, dignity, and possibility.
When we invest in family literacy, we invest in stronger families, more inclusive communities, and a future shaped by understanding and connection. This is a commitment truly worth celebrating.
Celebrate Family Literacy January 27th and everyday with these trainings and resources available through CLN.
