Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1988-10-23

Duration: 00:27:03

Subjects: Literacy | Reading | Early childhood education

Contributors:

• Masingale, Sonya Host
• Edwards, Patricia Interviewee
• Chauff, Mary Interviewee
• Matthews, Marva Interviewee
• Celestine, Othello Interviewee
• Jacobs, Ray Interviewee
• Riccardo, Ralph Interviewee
• Landry, Diane Interviewee
• Patterson, Phillip Interviewee
• Roemer, Patti Interviewee
• Weems, Nancy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Folks” from October 23, 1988, focuses on children’s literacy. Sonya Masingale first profiles the successful Parents as Partners in Reading program at Donaldsonville Elementary School, which teaches parents how to read to their children. She interviews: Dr. Patricia Edwards, the founder of the program; Mary Chauff, the principal at Donaldsonville Elementary; Marva Matthews, the assistant principal; Othello Celestine, community volunteer; Ray Jacobs, community volunteer; Ralph Riccardo, the Superintendent of the Ascension Parish Public Schools; Diane Landry, parent; and Phillip Patterson, parent. Next, Masingale interviews Louisiana First Lady Patti Roemer, who discusses her work as a literacy advocate and why she chose to focus on this issue. Lastly, Masingale conducts an in-studio interview with Nancy Weems, a Ph.D. candidate at LSU and the current leader of the Parents as Partners in Reading program. She discusses: the community support for the program in Donaldsonville; the importance of empowering parents; the program’s role in overcoming the culture gap between teachers and parents; her research into the communication between teachers, parents, and children; and tips for reading to your children.