Family Engagement for Early Literacy
Research shows family engagement is critical to improving literacy outcomes for students and schools. With the right tools, information, knowledge and support, parents and families can be a powerful, positive influence on their child’s reading development from birth through pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and beyond.
It is up to schools, educators, and community-based partners to provide resources and family engagement opportunities that are easy, explicit, evidenced-based, and effective in support of their child’s literacy development. Parents need to be informed that reading proficiently by third grade is a critical milestone for their child’s future academic success (including high school graduation and college attendance); that learning to read doesn’t happen automatically; and that the skills needed to be a good reader start developing from birth.
While parents can be engaged as effective partners in their child’s learning, it is important to note that parents are not solely responsible for teaching their children to read. Every student deserves access to evidenced-based classroom instruction and academic supports that will help them become proficient readers.
Roles Parents Can Play in Their Child’s Learning and Development
Parents and families — regardless of their race/ethnicity, educational background, gender, disability, or socioeconomic status — are critical partners with schools, libraries, and community-based organizations and can engage in diverse roles to support their child’s learning and development. Examples of these roles include:
- Supporters of their children’s learning and development, including encouraging an achievement identity, a positive self- image, and a “can-do” spirit in their children. Parents can support the development of their child’s identity as a reader and create positive experiences from birth through talking, reading, singing and playing with their child.
- Monitors of their children’s time, behavior, boundaries, and resources. Parents can promote the importance of reading by spending time reading with their child and having daily conversations about books and learning.
- Models of lifelong learning and enthusiasm for education for their children, including pursuing opportunities to develop personally and professionally.
- Advocates/activists for improved learning opportunities for their children and at their schools. Parents can ask for transparent and regular communication to understand how their children are doing with respect to literacy. They can ask educators questions to understand what their child needs to become a better reader. They can voice concerns if they believe their child needs extra support.
- Decision-makers in educational options for their children, the school, and community.
- Collaborators with school staff and members of the community on issues of school improvement and reform. Parents are a valuable asset to help come up with solutions that will actually work for students and other families.