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 ;).

Another favorite family literacy activity that we encourage is a New Year New You - Vision Board! Together as a family - members can create a vision board using magazines, books, or printed words. Each of these represent hopes and goals for the year ahead.
What family literacy activities do you share with your families?

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?

One of my favorite things to do as a family - to promote family literacy - has been to create a Holiday Family Story. Together, all 5 of us write a silly story that summarizes our experiences throughout the year. We begin with the same starting sentence each year and then each family member adds a sentence or paragraph. How do you incorporate family literacy fun into holiday celebrations?

Have you ever created a Holiday Book Advent Calendar as a family literacy incentive or initiative? (ie. Wrap 24 books and open one each day leading up to the holidays.)

How can families incorporate literacy development into holiday traditions and activities?

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.