Family and School Literacy Partnerships: Getting Ready for Learning Together
This post is about building reading culture with families through social literacy and learning events. You will find:
Ideas to consider when planning events for caregivers.
Planning tips from a recent event held in my school community.
I’m always interested in, motivated by, and grateful for my conversations with early childhood teachers. All teachers are like superheroes, and early childhood teachers have a special magic to their heroism. Early childhood teachers celebrate kids endlessly, differentiate instruction constantly to meet various student needs, and approach their teaching with love and intention to support the school community’s youngest learners and their families.
A re-emerging theme in my conversations with early childhood teachers several years ago was a need for more family engagement to welcome caregivers into our school community. We wanted to share the importance of reading and literacy development and to provide support in building readiness for school. These conversations led to the creation of a new literacy community event called Parent Academy: Junior Edition. It is designed to support families of children in PreK, Kindergarten, Grade 1, and/or Grade 2.
Since its development, Parent Academy: Junior Edition has been held in-person and virtually. Teachers and administrators work together to host workshops that target various aspects of early learning processes. The focus areas are generated from topic requests from caregivers as well as what teachers and administrators observe as areas of learning that would benefit from additional practice in or exposure to at home. The importance of reading and how to foster reading at home are always shared at a Parent Academy: Junior Edition event.
A community literacy event for families of the youngest learners in the school community also serves to build a partnership with caregivers from the start of students’ school career. By establishing the relationship through literacy learning early on, educators and families can grow the community together over several years and prioritize literacy and reading as a central aspect of development.
A Parent Academy: Junior Edition event was recently held in my school community for caregivers of incoming PreK and Kindergarten students. Hosting the community event at the end of August before school officially starts is intentional as workshop information is geared toward what families can expect as the school year begins, the importance of early literacy development, and how families can best support their children in developing language and routines for school readiness. First day jitters are not only for students; caregivers often feel anxious too. An event prior to the first day of school provides time and space for caregivers to connect with school community members to attend to their own curiosities and possible uncertainty.
I always reflect after each event using feedback from attendees and the planning team as well as my own observations to cultivate family literacy involvement. Here are elements of the most recent Parent Academy: Junior Edition event that impacted its success. Some were new to the design of the event, and some are staples in the reading culture-building process:
Partner with community organizations: A representative from the public library joined the event. Caregivers were invited to sign up for a library card, learned about community events at the public library, and took home sample crafts and activities for their children that are typically available at the public library for no cost. Partnering with the public library contributes to the mission of building reading culture and expands the influence that reading can have on the lives of students and families outside of school.
Tap into community service platforms within a school district: Students in the National Junior Honor Society joined to earn community service hours. They helped with organization tasks like passing out welcome brochures, managing music selections during workshop transitions, and distributing raffle prizes at the conclusion of the event. The students also provided childcare to any caregivers who were comfortable with the arrangement. Since the workshops are designed for adults, the students sat with young children to color, draw, and read while caregivers attended the workshops.
Incorporate books into every part of the event: Caregivers were welcomed into a space where books helped to frame the event and define the reading community. For example:
On the welcome table, books about community, inclusivity, and kindness were displayed.
As caregivers walked to their seats, they had an opportunity to enter free book raffles where books were on display with raffle ticket bins.
During the welcome presentation, caregivers listened to a portion of a read aloud about a character that was nervous for the first day of school.
At each workshop, there were books that matched the theme of the workshop. For example, at the early numeracy workshop, there were picture books about math. At the early science learning workshop, there were books about science concepts and famous scientists.
During the closing, book raffle winners were announced.
As caregivers exited, they each received a free book that was donated to our event from a partnering publisher.
Feedback bookmarks: In the free book, there was a bookmark with a QR code to a feedback form. Caregivers were asked if they felt welcomed and supported during the event. Suggestions for how to grow our family and school partnership were also requested. I already have new ideas for our next literacy event based on some of the responses.
Solicit ideas from teachers: I shared in the beginning of this post that the idea for a caregiver event dedicated to the early years of learning sprouted from conversations with early childhood teachers. Teachers are wise, and they understand the necessity (and complexity) of building home and school partnerships to benefit kids and their academic, social, and emotional development. This is a tip that can apply to all levels of an organization. For example, I am working with a team to host a Parent Academy literacy event for caregivers of students in grades 6-12 to discuss artificial intelligence in education. This is in response to conversations that my colleagues and I have had with middle and high school teachers about artificial intelligence tools like Chat GPT.
In Chapter 6 of my upcoming book Leading a Culture of Reading: How to Ignite & Sustain a Love of Literacy in Your School Community, I share ways to involve families and caregivers in reading culture events with a focus on educators and caregivers building culture symbiotically and equitable access. Sample event plans are shared with tips and strategies for teams. The chapter is written for educators working in grades PreK-12.
While this particular Parent Academy: Junior Edition event was held prior to school starting, it is never too late to welcome families into the school building for events focused on shared literacy and learning.
Share the literacy leadership:
Teachers: Reflect on the ways in which you partner with caregivers:
What values are points of emphasis?
What are some areas in which you think could be supported through a larger community event like a learning academy?
Consider sharing this information with colleagues to continue building home and school partnerships.
Administrators: Reflect on how literacy and/or learning culture happens with families:
What types of events are held to grow a literacy and/or learning culture together with families?
What supports are needed to increase caregiver access to participating in school reading culture events?
Ask the teachers you work with about topics for school or district wide caregiver events.