SACO – “Am I doing enough to help my kids learn to read?”

This was one of many questions posed during a Saco-Biddeford Community Literacy Forum on March 21. The event, hosted by the Saco-Biddeford Community Literacy Team, gave parents, educators and members of the community a chance to interact and discuss the growing challenges of having students in the two-school systems test at literacy proficiency.

The team broke off into six themed groups, each sitting a table with a moderator. The moderators presented a prompt to the group and subsequently asked them to come up with a list of questions, and later, solutions, for each problem presented. Attendees were instructed to rotate, each visiting two groups and answering the prompts.

Themes for the groups included “Literacy at Home,” “Literacy in Saco,” and “Community Resources.” To begin the conversation, a statistic or statement was provided for discussion.

The statements dealt directly with literacy in the student population within the Saco-Biddeford community and the breakdown of literacy proficiency.

Some of the prompts gave statistical data regarding literacy, for example, “49.7 percent of Maine students (46 percent for Saco, 60 percent for Biddeford) – grades three to 11– are not assessing at grade level proficiency,” while another read “34 percent of children entering kindergarten lack the basic language skills needed to learn how to read.”

“But how do we know what qualifies as basic language skills? Is that talking or writing?” asked Saco mom of two, Anna McCard. “How do I know if they’re on the right track?”

Mccard, whose son is approaching kindergarten age, was one of many parents in attendance during the forum. When asked why she attended, her answer was simple and sincere.

“I’m just a mom trying to teach my kids to read,” McCard said.

The Saco-Biddeford Community Literacy Team is a group of educators and parents looking to strengthen literacy in Saco and Biddeford school systems, and encourage reading to be a part of their everyday life.

Erik Squire, Saco parent and Saco-Biddeford Community Literacy Team chairman, was inspired to join the effort when he read the Maine Department of Education study “Literacy for ME,” which encourages parents and educators to join together to create literacy teams in their communities.

“I reached out to Mary Bellavance (team member and educator at Biddeford Middle School) and she was able to point me in the direction of this group,” said Squire, who’s daughter, Charlie, is 3 years old. “I wanted to get involved because reading is so important.”

Moderators at the tables helped attendees decipher what they thought were the best ways to move forward and help enhance literacy proficiency in the communities. For the tables focused on community resources, the groups brainstormed ways to ensure people know where and what available resources are, as well as how to get books into the hands of children.

Groups focused on literacy at home created a list of ways they can help children learn to read before they enter school.

“There isn’t a methodology out there for parents,” McCard said at her table as Marianne Collins, literacy specialist at Biddeford Intermediate School, took notes on a large pad. “Is there a best way to read to your kids?”

Nicola Braley, a literacy specialist at Young School in Saco and Saco-Biddeford Community Literacy Team member, oversaw one such group discussion, and said part of diagnosing the problems of literacy comes from discovering where the breakdown of the process is.

“Are they getting read to at home before school? Do they have access to books in the home?” Braley said. “We need to get the word out.”

Attendees were also given a handout by the team, detailing ways parents and caregivers can help children learn to read as well as practice reading and writing skills.

Following the discussion sessions, attendees came together as moderators shared their findings with the group.

A primary theme from the brainstorming session was how to ensure that children have access to books and are reading at home. Some ideas for remedies included implementing a book mobile for the community, a book of the month for community children to read, and compiling an online list of where and when story times are being held in the community.

“We want reading to be an achievement of shared pride for the two communities,” said Julie Smyth, Saco curriculum director. “Imagine how great it would be to drive by the train station and see how many minutes we’ve read as a community that month.”

Members of the Saco-Biddeford Community Literacy Team consist of Squire, Smyth, Bellavance, Braley, Collins, Saco Main Street Executive Director Rob Biggs, Saco Resident Cynthia Chadwick-Granger, Dyer Library Children’s Room Coordinator Brooke Palmer, and Jessica Cook, literacy coach at Fairfield School. The next community literacy forum will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at Biddeford City Hall, after the Courier deadline.

Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@inthecourier.com.