The Family and Child Education (FACE) program was created in 1990 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (now the Bureau of Indian Education). FACE provides culturally responsive education, resources and support for American Indian families with children from birth to grade three. NCFL is proud to have worked with the FACE program since its inception. Each year, FACE parents are encouraged to submit their personal stories for a Parent Essay Contest. Six winners were chosen this year, and we're going to highlight each of the winning essays over the next six weeks.

[flickr]photo:2516349828[/flickr]Roundup of notable literacy stories from this week's news. Nearly Deaf Professor Teaches English Literacy, One Student at a Time From the New York Times, an inspiring story of a nearly deaf adult English literacy teacher and his immigrant students. Spellingcity.com I found t

[flickr]photo:2511320694[/flickr]I just got back from Southern California from the Power of Moms workshops.  They were sponsored by the McDonald's Owners and Operators of Southern California.  Though NCFL has been working with McDonald's since fall 2006, the Power of Moms is something brand new. NCFL and McDonald's worked with groups like Mocha Moms and International Moms Club to celebrate Mother's Day.

Yesterday's Lexington Herald-Leader featured an Op-Ed by NCFL's president Sharon Darling in honor of Mother's Day. Here's a few activities she suggests to help moms give literacy a boost at home.

• Make reading a family habit. Set aside a special time and place to enjoy stories without interruptions.
• Take advantage of free resources, like Thinkfinity.org.

[flickr]photo:2457374578[/flickr] Calling all early childhood programs! NCFL is now accepting applications to participate in an innovative initiative based on the findings of the National Early Literacy Panel (NELP). Three to five early childhood programs will be selected to receive parent workshops at their sites.  The programs will also receive materials created by NCFL and funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

[flickr]photo:2431663221[/flickr]NCFL needs your ideas and suggestions on student speakers for the 2009 National Conference on Family Literacy! If you attended this year's conference, you know how fabulous the student speakers were. We're already busy looking for stories that are just as inspiring as the ones a few weeks ago. Please consider submitting student speaker suggestions. We're looking for individuals with personal stories of triumph, accomplishment and inspiration. The student speakers selected will receive a scholarship to attend next year's conference in Orlando, Florida!

Today is our second post from one of our readers!  Here is Darla's answer to the question "If you could accomplish, or see accomplished, one thing to further the cause of family literacy in the next five years, what would it be?" "Educate all parents about the appropriate interventions and resources available.  You're never too old to learn how to read and write.  Help older students achieve success in reading through effective remediation, not just accommodations." What do you want to see accomplished in family literacy?

 NCFL is proud to roll out the first post from one of the attendees at our conference.  Jessica completed the Tell Us Your Story survey last week, and we are excited to share with you her earliest literacy memory.  If you are interested in seeing your own story on the Literacy Now blog, click here.  Thanks for sharing your story, Jessica! "I can remember sitting and reading with my mom and my dad.