{"id":192547,"date":"2026-02-25T05:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T05:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/192547\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T05:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T05:01:12","slug":"teaching-the-parents-kcsos-family-workshop-series-focuses-on-early-literacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/192547\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching the Parents: KCSOS Family Workshop Series Focuses on Early Literacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kern County families are strengthening the bridge between home and school with the new KCSOS Parent Workshop Series, focused on the foundations of literacy and reading. Parents of young children \u2014 prekindergarten through second grade \u2014 gathered at the Larry E. Reider Building in Downtown Bakersfield on Saturday for the first of four sessions, centered on Background Knowledge and Literacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur office is working to empower our families to become a side-by-side team with the schools to support their students,\u201d said Lisa Vargas, Executive Director of P-3 Alignment and Early Learning. \u201cThey can set a solid foundation for their children when they do become readers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Led by the Curriculum and Instruction team, the workshops were created to build parents\u2019 capacity to support early literacy development using practical, research-based strategies. Program Specialist Ana Adamson, who helped organize the series, said the goal is to equip families with hands-on training that they can take home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand that children begin developing their oral language and literacy skills long before they enter school,\u201d Adamson said. \u201cEveryday interactions \u2014 talking, reading, singing \u2014 all build the foundation students need to become strong readers and writers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each three-hour session includes both background learning and hands-on practice. Parents not only learn about key concepts such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, and environmental print, but they also create materials to take home and use right away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really appreciate getting this new knowledge to help our kids at home,\u201d said parent Adriana Tavera De Perez. \u201cPlease continue doing it for other grades.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Parents experiment with hands-on lessons they can use to promote literacy in their home. <\/p>\n

The workshop series emphasizes how everyday moments \u2014 grocery shopping, gardening, visiting grandparents \u2014 help children understand language and set them up for future success.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make parents aware of how our brains are always developing,\u201d Adamson added. \u201cBefore a child even knows how to read, they understand the significance of a symbol. For instance, if they go to McDonald\u2019s, they see the arches and know it means food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Workshops are offered in both English and Spanish, with separate sessions tailored to preschool\u2013kindergarten and first\u2013second grade families. Organizers are also working to dispel common misconceptions, including the belief that strengthening a child\u2019s home language may interfere with learning English. Research shows the opposite is true: strong foundations in a home language can support and accelerate learning in a second language.<\/p>\n

\u201cI speak 100 percent Spanish at home, and my daughter is fully bilingual,\u201d Tavera De Perez said. \u201cThis program is helping me to get English resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parents are strongly encouraged to attend all four sessions. Those who complete the full series will receive a certificate of completion and a reading basket donated by local pre-K programs.<\/p>\n

Adamson says the effort comes at an important time, as districts continue rebuilding parent engagement following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. By hosting the workshops at the county level, she hopes to model a program that districts can replicate within their own communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been working with some of our districts to bring up their engagement,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is just one more step to continue to create that awareness for our districts.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than anything, Adamson hopes that these sessions will create a safe space for parents to ask questions, communicate, and build strong partnerships with their child\u2019s school, and take an active role in their learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cParent engagement is such an important aspect of student success,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re inviting our parents to create that bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n

The remaining sessions will be held:<\/p>\n

February 28 \u2013 Vocabulary Development & Sight Word Recognition<\/p>\n

March 21 \u2013 Phonological Awareness & Decoding<\/p>\n

March 28 \u2013 Language Structures, Syntax & Verbal Reasoning<\/p>\n

All sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 2000 K St. You can register for the free workshops here<\/a>, and walk-ins are also welcome. Parking is available onsite; and childcare is provided for children ages 3\u201310, along with a light breakfast and snack.<\/p>\n

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Parents show off their artwork activity.<\/p>\n

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