How do you assess the literacy needs of families at the start of the school year?
Assessing the literacy needs of families at the start of the school year can help tailor support and resources effectively.
One of the ways that our district approaches this is through family surveys. We distribute short, simple surveys to families asking about their reading habits, access to books, preferred languages, and any specific literacy challenges they face at home. This helps us with providing the right intervention supports for the whole child overall.
We also utilize Family Literacy Nights where we host an event where families can participate in reading activities, allowing us to observe engagement levels and identify areas where support might be needed. Post event surveys also provide insight to family preferences and needs.
Michigan Department of Education shares several resources for family literacy and home to school connections. It is entitled: Family Engagement for Literacy. Here are a few of the documents included:
Supporting Families in the Essential Practice of Read Alouds; Sharing Why the Read Aloud Is an Essential Practice With Families
Does your state department of education share valuable resources you can use to collaborate and build understanding with families?
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards/literacy/family-engagement-for-literacy
Last week we had our first Family Academy at a local community college. Our local United Way sponsored this amazing event and a local theater group 'sang a story'! It was so amazing - what ways do you tie in community groups with family fun?
Next week we are planning an hour with our families for our first and second grade students. We are part of the Leader in Me program and we have invited families to come in and view our Classroom Mission Statements and then create Family Mission Statements! We have set up social media picture spots in the building for families to pose by/at. What hashtag do you think would be fun to use? We are the Lemmer Leopards ;).
How can families incorporate literacy development into holiday traditions and activities?
One of my own personal family activities for the new year is a Family Book Club. Together as a family we select a book to read together during the month of January. We try to pre-schedule weekly discussions where we talk about the book and relate its themes to the new year.
What family literacy activities do you do at the start of the new year?
Did you know that there are FREE early literacy interactive apps available to caregivers, teachers, and families at www.ginapepin.com?
We had a late Reading Month celebration due to snow and ice storms followed by spring break. Last night we met with families and shared all kinds of fun reading and math alternatives to common board games. Here is the Google file with a few of the FILE FOLDER games we shared! Feel free to share them, print them etc!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vw2EFbC-XW6n4pbOkDU5WyU0Uvu4SCWC?usp=sharing
How did you celebrate reading month with families this year?
