About Our Partnership with the National Center for Family Literacy

Combining Expertise

The National Museum of American History and the National Center for Family Literacy are partnering to make OurStory a stronger program. The National Museum of American History brings to the partnership its expertise in telling the stories in history, its collections, and its experience with literacy programs that ran at the Museum for years. The National Center for Family Literacy brings its commitment to and experience with supporting family learning.

Products of the Partnership

Together, we have developed a new format for the reading guide activities. The activities still encourage higher-level thinking and active reading, but are being reformatted to provide a clearer flow.

Both partners worked together to plan the 2009 kick-off event for National Family Literacy Month. On November 2, 2009, the National Museum of American History hosted an event for National Family Literacy Day. Activities were available for invited guests and visitors from the general public:

• “Read aloud” storytelling performances of Freedom on the Menu and The Flag Maker.
• Museum theater presentations of “Broad Stripes and Bright Stars” and “Join the Student Sit-Ins.”