Literacy Today March/April 2019

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Allowing students to take self-selected texts

into the home environment not only makes it

possible for children to engage their families in the

reading practice, but also helps get them excited

about it. We know it’s empowering for children to

see themselves on the page. It’s just as affirming

for families to see themselves reflected.

Storytelling is another way for children to

engage their families in the learning process. You

can have students write and illustrate their own

stories that they then take home to share. Better

yet, design an assignment that calls for students to

craft those stories with their families.

Of course, you can always simply ask students

what they’d like to do with their families and build

literacy-oriented activities and goals around their

individual areas of interest. As is the case with

student-selected reading materials, this increases

the likelihood that families will be receptive and

enjoy the process.

Marcie Craig Post

ILA Executive Director

An effective family engagement strategy

built around these tried-and-true, child-directed

practices by no means replaces more traditional

paths. But challenging your own notions of

family engagement and exploring how you can

empower your students to help lead these efforts

can yield surprising results.

Have you tried any of these strategies, or do

you want to recommend some of your own?

Share them with us on Twitter (@ILAToday) or by

sending an email to literacytoday@reading.org.

LITERACY TODAY | March/April 2019 | literacyworldwide.org

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