Having a successful Get Set Learn family literacy program requires planning in advance. This section explains how to:
Since Get Set Learn is a family literacy program that focuses on both parents and their children, facilitators need to have an understanding of both andragogy (the art and science of helping adults learn)(Knowles, 1980) and pedagogy (the art and science of helping children learn). Presently, there is no certification required to be a family literacy facilitator, although many different certifications exist regarding facilitating specific family literacy programs such as “Mother Goose” or “Parents as Partners.”
Ideally, family literacy facilitators should have previous experience working with adults as a facilitator and working with young children as well. Depending on the size of the program, one may need to hire more than one facilitator but only one coordinator is needed. In many cases, the coordinator will also facilitate the class or classes.
This program can be facilitated by a volunteer, however, it should be a very dedicated volunteer who has not only an interest in this program and the participants, but who also has a background in either adult or child literacy. Careful screening would need to be done since the volunteer would be working with children, although not alone.
The premise of Get Set Learn is to enhance the literacy and math skills of both the parent and the child. Research shows that parents are more likely to attend a program if it is focused on their children rather than themselves. Get Set Learn provides literacy enhancement for both children and adults but it focuses on the child in the initial classes. Providing child care on site for parents enrolled in the Get Set Learn classes allows parents the opportunity to attend.