This resource is provided by ACSA Partner4Purpose Just Right Reader.
Literacy development goes beyond the classroom, making at-home reading practices vital for reinforcing the skills students gain at school.
Establishing strong partnerships with families and caregivers is key to boosting students’ reading abilities and supporting their overall academic success.
The Importance of Family Involvement in Literacy Development
Studies have shown that when families actively participate in their children’s education, particularly in reading, it significantly enhances academic success (Sénéchal & LeFevre, 2002).
Reading together at home:
- Strengthens reading skills
- Promotes language development
- Nurtures a love of reading
- Supports social-emotional growth
- Strengthens family bonds
How Administrators Can Support Educators in Family Communication
As an administrator, you play a key role in empowering your staff with the tools and guidance needed to cultivate strong partnerships with families.
Strategies for administrators:
● Provide Educators with Resources: Ensure your teachers have access to guides and resources, such as those from Just Right Reader, that outline the benefits of reading at home and offer practical tips for families to maximize their reading time together.
● Promote Family Literacy Events: Encourage and support the organization of family literacy nights at your school. Actively promote these events to families, emphasizing their value in enhancing students’ reading skills.
● Facilitate Regular Communication: Implement a system for teachers to send consistent updates to families regarding their child’s progress in phonics and reading. This ensures that families are informed and empowered to support their child’s learning at home.
5 Reading Tips to Share With Families
Here are five helpful strategies to share with families to encourage reading at home:
1. Establish a Regular Reading Routine: Encourage families to set up a consistent daily reading time, which is one of the most effective ways to build reading skills. This could be after school, before or after dinner, or as part of the bedtime routine.
2. Engage Actively in the Reading Process: Advise families to be active participants during reading time. This means sitting with the child, emphasizing words, and discussing the story. Suggest asking questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why did the character do that?” to enhance comprehension and critical thinking.
3. Praise Efforts, Not Just Outcomes: Encourage families to praise their child’s effort, not just their reading fluency. This approach helps children develop a positive attitude toward reading and boosts their confidence in learning.
4. Utilize Decodable Books to Reinforce Learning: Highlight the importance of decodable books in supporting developing readers. These books provide structured practice of the phonics skills taught in class, helping to boost reading confidence and achievement.
5. Make Reading Fun and Interactive: Suggest that families vary the reading materials and make reading a fun and interactive experience. This could involve using different voices for characters or exploring books on topics the child enjoys. Encourage creating a cozy reading nook to make reading an enjoyable and memorable activity.
Visit Just Right Reader’s Science of Reading Blog for the latest research, resources, articles, and instructional strategies to accelerate reading achievement in your district or schools.
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