Parents' Reviews of Pawprints Literacy+

Comments of parents of children 6-12 at City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

EPICC* Winter Camp, full day program for 45 young people.

* Exposition Park Intergenerational Childcare Center; program for off-track enrichment

"My daughter learned how to put things together to write a story...she didn't know how before..."  

“I’m really happy with the program, and I’m planning to sign Cynthia up for after school. She said they were very nice to her, and she was really happy, and I am, too.  She showed me a little paragraph she wrote – it showed imagination.  She's learning how to work together with people.  She’s learning how to put a story together. Before this program it was hard for her to write a story.  The program was a good thing.  She could write stories now.  She's learning more words, too, that she didn't know before.   Like ‘kindness’ - words that I recognize that she didn't know before.  She doesn't have to ask me as much as she did before.  She’s reading more now that she was.  She reads more books now.  I'm working and I know that she's fine, and doing activities, instead of being at home with nothing to do. She's not bored this way.  She's 8.  They should continue the reading part of the program.” Beatriz Serrano, mother of Cynthia Serrano

"The reading and writing program is a perfect idea.  If she's going to work in this nation, she has to learn the language.."

“The reading and writing program is a perfect idea.  It helps kids improve things like spelling, and reading more books, and they will be ready for their future.  It’s rare these days to have this kind of thing, where they can improve their minds.   It’s good, because it will get them to a higher level, for school and college.  The more reading the better.  It’s good for my daughter because it gives her more practice in English.  If she’s going to work in this nation, she has to learn the language.  The better she learns, the better for her and other people, too.  Education is good for them.  They get excited and want to learn, and being around new people (speaking English), she won’t be so awkward with other people in the future. The animal stories were good for her.  They open a door for them.  They could become a vet if they are interested in animals.”

"Trips and playing are great, but reading and writing are more important than anything. If kids can read, they can do anything in life."

"They had fun, but it should not only be fun. The reading and writing made them really think, and that made me feel better. They’re off-track, but they won’t lapse...they’ll be ready to go back to school. My kids came home and said, 'Mom! Look at what we wrote today!' They had fun, and were proud of everything they wrote...They wrote stories about things like helping a driver deliver food to people in need." Natae and Dejonae Cooke’s Mom

"I speak English at home, but my daughter's father only speaks Spanish. So the reading and writing part are good, for her to practice, become more fluent."

"I speak English at home, but my daughter's father only speaks Spanish.  So the reading and writing part are good, for her to get practice, become more fluent...The animal stories in 'Pawprints' are good, because animals are always interesting to kids.  They're always trying to find out what animals do – it's interesting to them."

Maura Uribe, Ezequiel and Jasmine’s Mom

"The reading and writing program is a perfect idea.  If she's going to work in this nation, she has to learn the language..."

“The reading and writing program is a perfect idea.  It helps kids improve things like spelling, and reading more books, and they will be ready for their future.  It’s rare these days to have this kind of thing, where they can improve their minds.   It’s good, because it will get them to a higher level, for school and college.  The more reading the better.  It’s good for my daughter because it gives her more practice in English.  If she’s going to work in this nation, she has to learn the language.  The better she learns, the better for her and other people, too.  Education is good for them.  They get excited and want to learn, and being around new people (speaking English), she won’t be so awkward with other people in the future. The animal stories were good for her.  They open a door for them.  They could become a vet if they are interested in animals.”

From an interview with Maria Arreola, whose 9 year old daughter attended the "Pawprints Literacy Plus" program.  Mrs. Arreola speaks only Spanish.  Questions and answers were translated by her 17 year old daughter.

This program will show people that those of us who live in the inner city are not all welfare recipients.  

I like that our kids can learn there is so much to life without having to be in the suburbs.  They had things like trips to Knotts Berry Farm, reading, the Science Museum...I‘m very happy they have this program.  It gives kids a chance not just to play, but to use their minds...Having fun is great, but having focus is important.  Reading will give my son a better chance in life, and I’m happy to have someone else who thinks like this to help me with him.  We’re looking forward to seeing Derryck’s stories and artwork on the internet...that will be good for him.”

Derryck Wallace's mom

A student's view

“The reading and writing was a good thing.  It makes you write more and read more books.  I learned things about reading and writing …The program should be in there, because I would get bored if it wasn’t there.  I wouldn’t be able to read and write when I was there…I’m very happy that my stories are going to be on the (“inaspawprints”) website…happy that my Mom will see what I wrote.  My Mom says she is very happy that she will be able to see what I wrote on the site.”

Priscilla Parra, Maria Arreola’s daughter, two weeks after completion of winter camp.

They had a good time, because they were relaxing and reading....They liked the trips....

“It was great, the girls were really excited.  Every day they came home and talked about what they were doing during the day.  They liked the trips.  Rosalba was saying that they were reading a lot.  She said she had a good time, because they were relaxing and reading.  She brought home an art project (to illustrate a story), and showed it to her father.   Reading and writing is a good idea.  It encourages them to read and write -- that’s always a good thing.  They speak mostly English, but Spanish at home.  But the reading and writing program was good for them even though they were on vacation.  They did not say 'Oh, we had to do this.'  When they don't like something, they complain like that.  But they didn't complain.  They had a really good time.”

Rosa Arreola, sister of Maria Arreola, Mom of Rosalba Ortiz