August is in full swing and school is right around the corner (if we haven’t started already)! With school comes sports, dance classes, homework, PTA meetings, and all kinds of other extracurriculars filling the calendar. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the abrupt shift in schedules, and oftentimes it is assumed literacy can be left to school lessons; however, it is both crucial and easier than you might think to advance your children’s literacy in a fun, engaging way for the whole family! Building a lifelong love for reading (and other kinds of literacy) often involves time outside of the classroom, and it proves to be well worth it. Read on for ways to incorporate literacy into your busy school year!
Work Literacy Practice into Everyday Tasks
We get it – time is limited for parents and students alike. Parents often question when they’re supposed to work books into school, practice, dinner, chores, etc. The good news is – literacy is more than just books!
Literacy practice can come in many shapes and forms. When you sound out an unfamiliar word on a menu together, that’s literacy. When you explain what a text from grandma means, or read the back of a cereal box at breakfast, or ask your child what they think will happen next in a show you’re watching together – all of it is literacy.
Try to find little moments throughout the time you do have to work in literacy practice.
Find Material Your Student Actually Wants to Consume
Speaking of literacy being more than books – not everyone loves novels. Help students find alternative material to practice their comprehension and critical thinking skills that aligns with their interests.
Some ideas include:
- Articles about a hobby, sports, favorite celebrities, etc
- Video Essays and Tutorials
- Graphic Novels or comic books
- Song Lyrics or Audiobooks
- Making Recipes
- Keeping a Journal or Scrapbook
- Video game lore
Keep An Eye Out for Warning Signs
Literacy is critical to students’ long-term success. Across the US, many students are falling behind in reading proficiency and comprehension. As a parent, you may be one of the most likely people to spot comprehension issues or struggles early and address it before a student struggles for too long and falls further behind.
Stay Positive and Be Curious
Parents sometimes pull back from engaging with their child’s reading because they’re afraid of doing it wrong – especially if their own relationship with reading or school was complicated.
There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong. But doing nothing can be more harmful than not engaging at all.
Be patient with mistakes, celebrate your student’s wins, and encourage them to keep exploring their interests.
Also, stay curious. Ask your student what they’re reading. What they’re surprised by. Just the act of engaging may have more impact than you may expect.
What literacy tactics have worked for your family during a busy school year? Let us know in the comments below.