There
are many things we can do as parents and teachers to promote family literacy.
One of the easiest ways is to read together. The bedtime story is such a great
way for family members to spend time together and read.
Doing
homework with your child also promotes family literacy. Chances are, your child
is learning the same material you learned in school, but in an entirely
different way.
Having
your child explain what she is learning will help her cement her knowledge and
help you think about things in a different way. Valuing our children and
students as teachers will increase their confidence.
Enjoying
hobbies together is another way to promote family literacy. Both the child and
adult are actively learning something they enjoy.
One of my favorite blogs, ReadWriteThink,
gives several ideas of how teachers and families can work together to promote
literacy.
Kick off National Family Literacy Day by inviting parents,
grandparents, and other family members to your classroom for a family-school
reading day.
•
Invite students' family members to read a favorite story from
their childhood, or their child's favorite bedtime story. (Grandparents can
share both their child's and their grandchild's favorites!)
•
Provide a collection of books for families to share during a
group reading session. Invite families to get comfortable by bringing a
cushion, beanbag chair, or pillow.
•
Introduce families to some of the games & tools
provided by ReadWriteThink. Encourage them to use these engaging tools at home
to enhance their reading and writing experiences.
•
Provide each family with a certificate of participation or a
bookmark at the end of the event. Ask a local bookstore for a donation, or
print certificates
and bookmarks from your computer.
•
At the close of your event, be sure to remind parents about
other National Family Literacy Day events in your community.
Remember that family literacy is something that
should be encouraged all year round. Invite students and their families to
brainstorm ways they can keep their family engaged in reading on a regular
basis!
Click on this link, ReadWriteThink,
to find many more ideas and websites to promote family literacy. Also visit, National
Center for Families Learning (NCFL) for even more great ideas for learning as a
family.