Deondra is a parent of three kids at Garfield Elementary School in East Oakland – in the fifth grade, third grade and Pre-K. Every day when she picks up her kids from school after she gets off work, she makes sure they don’t have access to any screens: no phones, no TV, no video games.
“I have them read for at least an hour,” she said. “Then I ask them about the book – what they learned, how the story went, where it took place, things like that.”
Deondra said that by making the intentional time to focus on reading, and engaging directly with her kids about their reading, her children are making big gains. The older kids are reading above grade level. And she’s impressed that her youngest daughter is already reading and showing a love for books.
“After I read her a book, she decided to read it back to me on her own,” Deondra told other parents in her Lit for Literacy program, supported by Families in Action (FIA) and co-led by FIA family organizers, as other parents whooped and cheered her on. “And she is only four years old.”
Deondra credits her involvement with Lit for Literacy in her children making these huge strides in their reading. She now understands grade-level standards, where her kids are at in their literacy development, and how to advocate for them at school with teachers and administrators.
Along with about 20 other Garfield parents in the Lit for Literacy program, Deondra recently spent a weekday morning on campus observing literacy instruction in kindergarten and first grade classrooms.
It was the final session for their Lit for Literacy cohort, an opportunity for the parents to analyze how the school is delivering literacy instruction, discuss with one another what they think is and isn’t working, and use that knowledge to not only help their kids at home but to build with other parents to improve all students’ reading abilities at the school.
Alexandra Brandenburg, the principal of Garfield, said the Lit for Literacy program empowers parents and she’s excited to have them on campus. Garfield has an “open door” policy, where families are always welcome at school, and Principal Brandenburg said there is a tangible benefit from getting parents in the classroom and observing literacy instruction.
“I think parents are really going to support our student growth here,” she said.
Before the parents split off into smaller groups to visit classrooms, they met in a portable that also serves as the school’s Family Resource Center and is supported by EBAYC. The parents also headed back to the center after they visited classrooms to debrief and go over their big learnings, takeaways, and next steps.
Nikita Williams is the managing director of the center, and a former Garfield parent. Nikita said she’s seen a big shift in parents becoming more involved and engaged in their child’s education, taking on leadership roles and collaborating. Lit for Literacy has been a big part of that.
“I’m excited to have a group of diverse parents that I can work with who are bought in,” she said. “I don’t have to be persuasive. They are actually looking to integrate change themselves. And they now have some tools to do that. We just have to give them the floor and the opportunity.”
John Jones, III, is also a Garfield parent (of a fourth grade student) who participated in Lit for Literacy. John is outspoken and playful during the sessions, quick to speak up and answer questions, deliver jokes and engage with other parents. He’s also very serious about the benefits of education and parent involvement.
He said he sees Lit for Literacy as “an investment in our young people” by ensuring parents understand they have a role to play in their child’s learning. He sees a real urgency in Black and Brown children in Oakland building strong literacy capabilities.
When John looks at the school’s reading proficiency data, he says “it brings tears to my eyes” because he knows how important literacy skills are for children to succeed in life.
While visiting classrooms, John noted the students were engaged in the lessons, and he gives credit to the school administration, teachers and staff. He said it’s up to parents to do their part as well, and he said he’s looking forward to getting other Garfield parents involved.
“As an involved parent, I believe I have a form of privilege that I need to share with other parents who cannot be as involved,” he said. “I don’t judge other parents, people’s situations are different. But that’s the next step. We have to get more parents involved. There’s no other way.”
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FIA’s Lit for Literacy (L4L) program aims to improve literacy and academic outcomes for Black and Brown students. With only 20% of Oakland students reading at grade level, FIA developed this program to help families better understand their children’s academic progress and equip them with strategies to support literacy at home. The program includes four training sessions, where parents learn about their child’s performance, gain literacy tools, and develop leadership skills to stay involved in their child’s education. Since its launch in 2022, Lit for Literacy has expanded to 12 schools, and students whose parents participate have shown significant growth in early literacy scores. Click here to learn more.
