Each session can be adapted to meet the needs of your families and community. Use the sessions individually for a family workshop or parent meeting, or combine them to create an ongoing family literacy learning series.
The Framework Behind the Learning Sessions
The sessions are based on the four key roles for children’s literacy success: Learn, Advocate, Partner, and Support. Together, these roles provide a framework for engaging families in children’s literacy development.
Everything You Need to Facilitate a Session
Each learning session includes ready-to-use materials designed to make planning and presenting easier.
Facilitator Guides: Step-by-step guidance for leading the session, including talking points, discussion prompts, activities, and ideas for engaging families.
PowerPoint Presentation with Facilitator Notes: A ready-to-present slide deck with notes that provide additional information and guidance for the facilitator.
PDF Presentation with Facilitator Notes: A PDF version of the presentation and notes that can be viewed, printed, or shared.
Event Planning Resource: A checklist to help plan and prepare for a successful family literacy event.
Explore Family Training Materials by Topic
Explore the four topics below to find ready-to-use sessions that best meet the needs of your families and community.
3 sessions focused on practical ways families can support children’s reading, writing, language, and literacy development through everyday activities and routines.
Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development – Early Literacy
Families will learn how children develop early reading skills from birth through preschool and how to support this development through everyday conversations, activities, and shared reading experiences.
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Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development – Elementary
Families will learn how reading develops from kindergarten through 5th grade and how to support this development through everyday conversations, activities, and shared reading experiences.
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Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development – Adolescent
Families will learn how reading develops from 6th through 12th grade and how to support adolescents’ reading development at home.
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1 session focused on building families’ understanding of how children develop literacy skills and the resources and supports available to help them succeed.
Learning About Your Child’s Reading Development
Families will learn how reading develops from preschool through adolescence and how to support their child’s literacy development at home using evidence-based strategies.
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2 sessions focused on strengthening collaboration between families and schools and supporting effective partnerships around children’s literacy development.
Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success – Family Track
Families will learn how reading develops and how to partner with their child’s school to support literacy development at home.
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Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success – School Track
Educators will learn how to partner with families to support children’s reading development through effective communication, shared literacy resources, and collaborative approaches to addressing concerns.
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2 sessions focused on building knowledge, confidence, and strategies to understand literacy needs, access appropriate supports, and advocate for learning.
Self-Advocacy for Children and Young Adults with Dyslexia
Students will learn about dyslexia and develop the knowledge, confidence, and strategies to advocate for their own literacy needs.
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Advocating for the Literacy Needs of Children
Families will learn about children’s reading development and how to effectively advocate for their child’s literacy needs.
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How Organizations Are Using the Materials
You know your families and community best. These materials provide a strong starting point while giving you flexibility to adapt examples, conversations, activities, and timing to fit your audience. Offer sessions individually as a family workshop or parent meeting, or combine them to create an ongoing family literacy learning series.
See how Family Connection of South Carolina used the Support sessions to engage families, train parents and professionals, and put the materials into practice. This four-part video series shares their experience and what they learned along the way.
Watch the videos series
