Once a year our district partners with the local Great Start Family Coalition and we put on a Parent Academy - an evening where families can come to learn more about supporting their child/children at home to develop language and literacy skills. Local businesses provide supplies i.e. puppets, playdough, books etc. and parents rotate through interactive centers. In these centers they learn how to create reading spaces in their homes and so much more!
What are some effective ways to engage families in supporting their child’s literacy development at home?

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.