Eloisa Gil Early Literacy Development

 

Blog 3 Personal Advocacy Journey

 A quote that you find inspirational regarding the role that advocacy can have in the lives of young children and their families.

“…shared-reading interventions can have a significant, substantial, and positive impact both in young children’s oral language skills and on young children’s print knowledge”

Developing Early Literacy:

                                          Report of the National Early Literacy Panel 2008(p.155)

 

What inspires and excites you most about your advocacy plan and being an advocate?

My advocacy plan will focus on how important it is for the parents’ participation in early literacy development. I am excited about how parents and teachers can play an important part in the development of the children’s writing and reading skills. Teachers and parents can work together to help children to be successful readers and writers when they reach upper grade school levels. Therefore, encouraging parents to attend literacy workshops and participating in the local library reading activities would help them to acquire the necessary skills to help their children develop interest for books.

What challenges and/or anxieties do you feel related to engaging in the advocacy efforts you have targeted?

I believe my biggest challenge would be to have more parent participation because, some parents believe that it is the teachers’ responsibility to teach their children to read and write. So I want to help parents understand that working together with teachers would be beneficial for their child and/or children. I want to implement this advocacy plan in the center where I work, and with the administrator’s support I think I will make a difference.

What do you believe will be most effective in helping your overcome any challenging emotions you may be feeling with regard to presenting and implementing your Advocacy Action Plan?

I believe I have good relationships with parents, and at the time I would have to present my advocacy plan, I think I will have good parent participation. I will explain the benefits their children will gain and how they can involve their children during reading activities.

How can you encourage others in their advocacy efforts, and how can others encourage you?

The best way to encourage others I believe is by telling them that they are doing a good job. And if it’s possible to read their advocacy plan, give them suggestions or ideas about how to improve their plan and if someone else would like to give me feedback on my advocacy plan, I would feel confident that I can implement my advocacy plan with no problems.