People learn better when they practice their skills in contexts and on tasks that are meaningful in their lives. In 2007, at selected learning centres throughout the province, Literacy BC teamed up with Word on the Street to distribute journals that learners used to record and share their family stories.

The Family Stories Project reached over 500 adult learners and their families, who collected stories, anecdotes, poems, newspaper clippings, photographs and other material. Adults working to upgrade their literacy skills used the journals as launch pads to explore literacy with their families. Diverse groups of learners in 20 literacy and learning centres participated, including young mothers, recent immigrants, and First Nations elders. The journals composed a rich repository of experiences, celebrated at the Word on the Street Festival in September 2007.

In past years, the Family Stories Project has proven remarkably successful at drawing learners out of their shells. The project is an example of the innovative approaches that are helping family literacy programs become increasingly recognized as effective models for addressing our province's literacy challenge.

Family literacy programs have long recognized the value of using journals to foster learning. Students can take risks with thinking and writing, build connections with what they know and what they have learned, process their experiences, and keep track of their progress. The Family Stories Project combines the value of journal-keeping with the power of family literacy, which promotes intergenerational sharing of experiences and learning, enhances the development of language and numeracy skills, and integrates learning support for families.

Family Stories from the Hastings Education Centre