Big
Dreams: Program helping parents with
preschool education
The Daily Corinthian, Published Friday, March 13, 2009
By L.A. Story
Staff Writer
Teaching parents how to be their child's first teacher and preparing
young children for the challenging requirements of school is what
the "Big Dreams" program is all about. But, the partnerships
formed by the program might be just as valuable to the community as
well as the children it serves.
The "Big Dreams" program held its first meeting at Farmington
Arms Apartments on Nov. 6, at the beginning of the school year and
positive changes are already being seen, according to Crosswind Director
of Outreach Ministry Rhonda Windham.
Big Dreams was developed through a partnership between The Corinth
Alliance, the Corinth School District and Crosswind Ministry. Windham
said the program had been tried before but, with an attempt to get
the parents and children to come to the school, it did not see much
success.
"We know that every parent wants to help their children succeed
and what we've learned through Crosswind is to take it to the people,"
said Windham.
"Farmington Arms is the first neighborhood we have brought the
program to. Several parents were very interested and we actually began
meeting in the laundry room, but now we're very excited that CMS Management
has donated an apartment to Crosswind so we can have an on-campus
presence."
The program now has approximately eight children who come each week,
along with their parent(s). Two teachers, Carrie Chappelle and Ann
Woodhouse, both with East Corinth Elementary School, spend one day
a week with the youngsters and their parents and together they help
the children learn shapes, colors, numbers, letters and other information
needed before beginning kindergarten.
"This program is vital. With today's higher standards for school,
if a child doesn't start out with some of these skills then they are
already behind [when school starts]," said Chappelle.
Woodhouse agreed, "It's not just Corinth ... children not being
ready for school is a problem nationwide."
A strong emphasis of the program is parental involvement. Parents
are taught what they can do to help become their child's first teacher
and how important they are to their child's success.
"We are empowering parents to have more confidence in parenting
their children," said Windham.
The program helps parents build environments that nurture their children's
growth and development -- encouraging parents to read to their children,
count with them and to have conversations with them.
Because of the partnerships involved, the children get a take-home
packet each week so that their parents can work with the child during
the week. Big Dreams appears to be a program, not only of learning,
but also of nurturing partnerships -- between parents and children,
teachers and parents, and volunteers, businesses and churches with
the community. Big Dreams is one of several programs that are beginning
with Crosswind. The ministry is about stabilizing communities and
helping with neighborhood needs. Windham noted that there will be
ever expanding opportunities to meet these needs now that they have
an on-campus presence. Crosswind is also beginning work at Hickory
Terrace with plans for a future on-campus presence there, too, Windham
said.
"We will now have children's programs, adult Bible studies, literacy
programs to teach people to read, diabetic screenings and a neighborhood
watch program. We will soon be forming a single mom support group
... a lot of things are going to be happening," Windham said.
With programs like Big Dreams, teachers and volunteers are optimistic
and appear to be excited about the future and its possibilities.
"I think this is a crucial program ... and I wanted to be part
of a program that I feel like will really make a difference,"
said Chappelle.
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