About 200 students and their parents celebrated their love for bilingual literature at the 11th annual Latino Family Literacy Night in May.
The celebration honored parents participating in the Latino Family Literacy Project in the Socorro Independent School District. The program aims to engage and establish reading routines between parents and their children. At the same time, families learn about Latino social and cultural customs in English and Spanish and develop a shared love for reading.
Claudia Vizcarra, whose children attend John Drugan School, said the program helps parents make reading fun for children.
“The program helps us a lot as parents to encourage our children to read at home,” Vizcarra said in Spanish.
Students and parents from 30 SISD schools attended the event, which featured guest speaker Marisela Garza, author of three children’s books, including, “Rebekitalocks & The Three Peñas.” The Eastlake High School jazz band and Dr. Sue A. Shook Elementary folklorico group also performed.
Arianna Avila, a third-grader at Sgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary, said she enjoyed the night’s music and entertainment as much as she liked to read.
“I like to read because it helps me learn more, and I practice more words,” Avila said.
Families in the Latino Family Literacy Project meet once or twice a week at their school during the school year. They receive bilingual books and practice their English and Spanish vocabulary with teachers who lead the program.
Joanne Anguiano, SISD Director of Bilingual Education, said the program allows parents to participate in their children’s reading education and enhance their level of learning.
“Literacy opens many doors, and it takes you to a different world,” Anguiano said. “By instilling the love of literacy, parents can take it back to their children and set the importance of literature and how it's going to take them to many places now and in the future.”
Arianna Avila’s mom, Diana Avila, said she and her children have participated in the program for four years. She said the program’s books allow her to pass on her Mexican culture to her children.
“I love it,” Diana Avila said. “I was born and raised in Mexico, so for me it's really important to share my culture with them.”