Today is the final installment of our FACE Parent Essay winners.  We hope you've enjoyed reading them and learning more about the participants and how FACE touches so many lives!

Crystal Teller
T'iis Ts'ozi Bi'Olta (Crownpoint) FACE Program

... Parent Time has so much to offer, such as skills on what a parent could do as a family member, community member and a worker. In Parent Time, I learned how important dialogic reading is when reading to my child. I use this method when we read at school or at home. It makes reading fun, understandable and exciting for Colby, Gracie and for Joshua, when he's with us. I know this is building up their vocabulary. Kenny and I are more involved with Colby and Gracie when it comes to learning. We learn how important it is to be good parents and to be the first teachers to our children.

I have learned how important it is to be a family member. As a family, we enjoy going to Pow Wows. Kenny teaches our kids the stories about the songs and dancing. We go to meet new friends and socialize with people. My family is involved in the dancing. Colby and Gracie both dance with their father at these events. Kenny is teaching Colby to sing the traditional Pow Wow songs.

FACE means to me having to be a risk-taker and showing our children we care about being a family and we can learn together as we read and play. So what FACE means to me is watching my son, daughter and nephew play as they learn to work with their fingers and use their minds to expand their imaginations to explore the world and prepare for a better tomorrow.