Parents often need to express their opinion or concerns on issues that are bothering them. They learn to understand other parents better and may have good advice to offer them or they may benefit from the advice of others. Facilitators must allow for this time prior to "getting down to business." Having a tea or refreshment break is also important for this purpose.

Some comments of facilitators who provided for socialization and support are:

  • I have heard about readiness for learning, but usually in terms of young children. Now I know what it means in connection with parents. When they have had a chance to talk about what is uppermost in their minds, then they are ready to talk about helping support their children's literacy development.
  • We all looked forward to our tea time break. You could learn so much about parents during these times.
Understanding the Organization or Structure of the PRINTS Program
Steps and Roles   Yes, STEPS and ROLES. Anyone who has been trained to use the PRINTS Program, whether facilitators or parents, hear these words over and over again. PRINTS is not about a "whole bunch" of activities; in fact, anyone who understands the PRINTS Program in this way, misunderstands it. The PRINTS Program was based on and extended a model that was developed by Peter Hannon in England. There are five STEPS. These represent contexts in a child's life in which literacy development may occur.
These five STEPS or contexts are:
  1. Scribbling, drawing, writing
  2. Environmental print
  3. Play
  4. Talk/ oral sharing
  5. Books and book sharing

According to the research it is important that these STEPS be front and center during parent facilitation sessions. Facilitators are encouraged to make these STEPS out of blocks about 8 inches long and 2"x4" or 2"x3". The PRINTS training sessions occur over 12 periods (an introductory and wrap-up session, and 10 sessions, 2 on each STEP). At the second session, which is the first session on Books and Book Sharing, this STEP is laid out for all to see. This remains for the next session on this context. When Talk/Oral Language is introduced, then the STEP for this context is placed next and the stairs is built over the 10 sessions. Research shows that parents who see the STEPS being built never forget them and they understand literacy development as being important in all aspects of a child's life.

One parent said:

When (the facilitator) first introduced STEPS, I did not know what she was talking about. Then as I saw her build each STEP, one after the other as we moved through the Program, I knew that these meant something and activities are not just a jumble but relate to different parts of a child's life.
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