“Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy.”
Barack Obama
In 1994, Congress passed a joint resolution designating November 1 as Family Literacy Day. This day kicks off Family Literacy Month and emphasizes the importance of reading and learning together as a family.
It’s vital to emphasize to students and families of all age groups that literacy is not just about reading books but also about comprehending, analyzing, and engaging with information in all its forms. Also important is the need to encourage students to develop a love of reading by sharing appropriate and engaging materials while modeling enthusiasm for reading. Here are some suggestions to share with families for Family Literacy Day.
Elementary School
Elementary school students are working on solidifying reading skills such as fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. During this crucial period, students begin to discover the joy of reading. This enjoyable experience introduces young children to reading as a gateway to knowledge, a tool for expanding their imaginations, and a vehicle for taking them to uncharted territories.
Encourage families to have daily reading time together. Some students view mandatory daily reading as a chore or punishment. Instead, encourage families to read and learn together as a bonding activity. Here are some tools to help you find exciting reading materials to share and discuss:
- Wonderopolis (reviewed here) – This site provides short daily stories encouraging critical thinking and discussion. Use the search feature in Wonderopolis to find stories that match students’ interests, such as animals, sports, and places around the world. Point out the Wonder Words in each story and share with parents how to use them during their discussion of each article to expand vocabulary.
- Storyline Online (reviewed here) – This collection of stories offers a highly entertaining way to introduce elementary students to a love of reading. Celebrated actors and actresses read children’s stories featuring creative illustrations. Each video includes activity guides, and many include guides for parents that include discussion questions and accompanying activities.
Middle School
Middle school students are deepening the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Expanding their literacy skills, they focus on deepening their understanding of the text through inference, analysis, and identifying connections to other materials. A key focus is promoting reading for pleasure and developing a love of reading.
Middle school students know how to use and navigate online resources; encourage families to work together to develop sound digital literacy skills.
- Google Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum (reviewed here) – Google and iKeepSafe developed a three-part curriculum to educate families and teens on how to stay safe online. By watching the videos together and completing the student handouts, families can learn to spot online deceptions, manage their digital reputations, and recognize various tricks and scams.
- Bookopolis (reviewed here) – This social network and book discovery tool encourages students to read and share reviews. It is also an excellent way for students to learn how to navigate social media while in a safe space. Using AI, Bookopolis also suggests books based on students’ interests and input.
High School
As high school students prepare for their career path, literacy skills focus on analysis, real-world applications, and critical analysis of reading materials. Continue to encourage reading for pleasure by offering choices of genres, authors, and topics of interest.
- Goodreads (reviewed here) – This application offers many opportunities for high school students to find and discuss books. Create a private or public discussion group and invite families to encourage family literacy. After adding books to the group bookshelf, add discussion questions to get the conversation started.
- The Learning Network (reviewed here) – This New York Times site includes many resources for high school students to analyze and learn about the world around them. Promote family engagement by inviting them to read and engage in discussions centered around the articles and opinions on the site. By doing so, families can establish a meaningful connection between literacy and their everyday lives.
Family Literacy Day offers an excellent opportunity to reinforce the importance of reading and learning together as a family. By sharing ideas with families that include literacy activities appropriate for each age group, we provide them with specific tools and activities that foster a love for reading, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.
What suggestions do you have for celebrating Family Literacy Day? We always enjoy learning together with our readers.