The teacher needs to be cheered by the animator and given positive feedback from the home visits made by the animator.

4. Home Visits

These are the particular tasks of the animator and require considerable skill and sensitivity. See "Section C - Becoming :m Animator", for further discussion.

The purposes of the visits are to:

• explain the new reading project;
• develop a trusting relationship with the parent;
• build a bridge with the school;
• gently explore the parents educational needs and, if appropriate, offer services.

PHASE IV - REPORTING BACK

In order to maintain on-going support, it is important to give feedback on the project, first of all to the students themselves and then to their parents. The latter can be done through a letter (Annex 9) or a meeting.

It is also important to share the results with the people to whom presentations were initially made.

FUNDING

An overview of the project would not be complete without a mention of funding.

While some teachers have initiated a "Parents-as-Partners" projects on their own, it seems to be impossible to turn it into a "Parents-as-Partners-as-Learners" project without the help of an Animator from the Adult Education Services, at least at the beginning. This is what requires the extra funding which has been obtained through special literacy projects. It is to be hoped that, as more schools do it, it will become part of the culture of the schools and parents will be welcomed as Partners and Learners.