In my current work, I have been focused on
engagement and how we, as teachers, can engage
with students, families, and communities. John
T. Guthrie describes in part that engagement is “a
merger of motivation and thoughtfulness.”
Teachers are essential to student engagement
that ignites thoughtfulness and motivation. In
designing lessons, we draw upon the curriculum
and examine the world around us as we observe
our students’ needs and interests. Gay Ivey and
Peter H. Johnston link student engagement
with learning that is relevant, allows choice,
and incorporates time to talk with fellow
students. Opportunities to engage in learning
that appropriately and steadily builds upon each
subsequent task flourish through success
and praise.
So how might we extend this engagement
from the classroom environment into the family
setting? Let me share one example.
I recently received Bao Phi’s book A Different
Pond (Capstone Young Readers) as a gift. The
text tells the story of a fishing trip between a
dad and his son. But it’s more than a fishing tale.
The themes link to understanding diversity of
others and their cultures, the economy of living in
America and its impact on families, and the power
of story that bonds our history to the present. All of
this is wrapped into the simple richness of family.
Here’s a book that can be shared as a read-aloud
in the early grades but thematically extended to
jump-start discussion among older students. War,
culture, survival in a new country. Relevant topics,
certainly. Family connections, definitely.
As a teacher, I can also use A Different Pond
to create student-engaged investigations into the
current cost of living, the impact of war upon
families, and the difficulties of relocating from
On Student and Family
Engagement
ILA UPDATE
one country to another. As for the power of story,
students may interview older family members to
learn about their struggles and joys growing up.
Simple stories can tell about connections that span
across generations. My instructional interest also
extends into the stories my students might one
day tell their own children about simple life lessons
presently experienced.
For additional professional development
information, I encourage you to access ILA
position statements, briefs, and papers from
our website, literacyworldwide.org, under Get
Resources. I particularly recommend the following:
Engagement and Adolescent Literacy (2019)
Expanding the Canon: How Diverse Literature
Can Transform Literacy Learning (2018)
The Power and Promise of Read-Alouds and
Independent Reading (2018)
Characteristics of Culturally Sustaining and
Academically Rigorous Classrooms (2017)
Don’t forget to also visit ilaconference.org
for registration information about our ILA 2019
Conference, Oct. 10–13, in New Orleans, LA,
featuring keynote speakers Chelsea Clinton, Pedro
Noguera, Renée Watson, and Hamish Brewer.
I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!
Kathy N. Headley
President of the Board
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literacyworldwide.org | July/August 2019 | LITERACY TODAY