Family Literacy Night—

Staying Engaged in Your

Child’s Learning
GCU

April 10, 2019

Lydia J. Henderson
Welcome to Family Literacy Night!!!
We are so glad you are here!
“Family literacy encourages a
partnership that is based on
commonalties
of home and school.”
(Foss-Swanson & Valeria, 2012)
 Why Are You Here?

To engage with your child’s school community

To learn strategies to read & write with your

child at home

To understand the importance of engaging with

your child’s learning

To have fun!
 What We Believe…

YOU, as parents and

family, can influence and
enhance your child’s
learning

YOU can promote and

encourage reading and
writing in the home

YOU can help improve

your child’s performance
 The Role of Parents…
Parents as role models

Notice how your child learns

Set aside time to read and assist with homework

Draw real-world connections to things learned

Set limits and help organize your child’s schedule

Teach and learn alongside them

Reading Strategies to Implement in the
Home
Read-Aloud

Reading required books to

your child, having them read
to you, and reading together
helps your child’s fluency,
vocabulary, and
comprehension

Modeling how you would

read a text (asking questions,
brainstorming, summarizing)
teaches your child crucial
learning strategies
 Reading Strategies Continued…

Read Recreationally

Go to the library and

explore books together

Fill your home with

books that engage and
interest your child

Spend time reading and

discussing books
together
Writing in the Home
 Is Writing Really That
Important?? YES
“Routman (2005)
reiterate(s) the view
that the act of writing
generates ideas, helps
develop higher order
thinking skills, and
can result in higher
test scores”
Writing Strategies to Implement in the Home
Family Message Journals (FMJs)

Respond to your child’s journal entry

Discuss it with them

Make corrections; develop the story

 Writing Strategies Cont…
Write Letters to Family Members

A simple and practical way to

exercise writing skills and audience
awareness

Write thank-you letters, birthday

cards, or “just saying hi” letters to
grandparents, family, or friends

Read each other’s letters and

discuss what was said and why

Correct any grammatical errors and

discuss the correct form
 Resources to Aid You at Home

How-to Family Literacy

Night Kit

How to Encourage Creat

ive Writing

U.S. Department of Educ

ation
Thank you for Coming!
Happy Reading :)
 Resources
Merga, M. K. (2015). Access to Books in the Home and Adolescent Engagement in Recreational Book
Reading: Considerations for secondary school educators. English in Education, 49(3), 197–214. Retrieved
from
https://search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=110528266&site=eds
-live&scope=site

Oakley, G., & Jay, J. (2008). “Making Time” for Reading: Factors That Influence the Success of
Multimedia Reading in the Home. READING TEACHER, (3), 246. Retrieved from
https://search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbl&AN=RN241031687&sit
e=eds-live&scope=site

Royer, R., & Richards, P. (2008). Digital Storytelling. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(3), 29–
31. Retrieved from
https://search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=35428088&site=eds-
live&scope=site

Valerie, L. M., & Foss-Swanson, S. (2012). Hey! Guess What I Did in School Today: Using Family
Message Journals to Improve Student Writing and Strengthen the School-Home Partnership. TEACHING
Exceptional Children, 44(3), 40–48. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-
com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ977300&site=eds-live&scope=site