Literacy as an Avenue for
Family Engagement
stories from three centers
 Hilltop YMCA
 CUL Moeller
 Hilltop Preschool
What do you know or
notice about children
whose families are
involved and engaged
with school activities?
What does research say
about family
involvement?
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“Increases in family involvement in the school predict
increases in literacy achievement.”1
“Family involvement in school matters most for
children at greatest risk.”1
“Lack of parental involvement is the biggest problem
facing public schools.”2
If lack of parent
involvement is a big
problem in schools, what
can we do about it?
What are ways we can get
families involved to help
with student success?
Stories of Family Literacy
Day/Night from Three
Centers

Hilltop YMCA
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Columbus Urban League – Moeller
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Katrina Hacker
Suzanne Schwartz
Hilltop Preschool

Marianne Mitchell
Hilltop YMCA Preschool
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Center Times are 2 ½ hours /day either 2,3,or 5
days per week
Total enrollment from 2013/2014 school year 56
children
3 different classes
Funding is all private pay with subsidy
available through the YMCA or United Way
Center Demographics
Every year we bring the families together for a family night.
This year we decided to hold a family night dedicated to
sharing some of the current research and best practice
around language and literacy development.
Teachers wanted to model quality, intentional interactions
with children focusing on some specific literacy strategiesInteractive reading and writing, letter identification, and
hearing sounds in words. Mostly we wanted the children
and families to engage in literacy rich activities and enjoy
being together as a way to reinforce the important
partnership between parent, child and teacher.
Fall Literacy Night
EMAILS
NEWSLETTERS
Communication

Email local Kindergarten Teachers
Community Outreach
Evening Literacy Plan
Interactive writing Letters to Santa
Interactive Reading with a
Written Response
Letter
Identification
Letter
Sound
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“The part that I enjoy most was seeing caregivers interact
with their children” –Ms. Jenny
 “I was writing letters” – Reese
 “I was writing” – Fritz
 “When I think back to Literacy Night the image that
stands out most is of Dilon sitting in the train with his
Grandmother listening to the Polar Express” – Ms. Connie
 We're sorry that we will miss this, but we have a
Christmas party that night...I hope you have a good time
and thank you for doing this for everyone. It's really nice
that you guys offer so many activities for the kids and
families. Thanks! - Scott
Reflections
Changes
Columbus Urban
League – Moeller
{
Suzanne Schwartz
Family Literacy Day
Hilltop Preschool Columbus
{
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Total enrollment of 58 students for 2013/2014
2.5 Hours per day, Tuesday – Friday
Funding through private donations, Grants and
ODE Expansion Grant
90% of Families are under 100% of poverty
Average educational level of mothers is 10th
grade
68% of students scored below average on GRTR
Assessment
Average income of families is less than $10,000
Center Demographics
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Have Fun
Family Engagement
Empowerment for Families
Improve Basic Literacy Skills and Foundations
Goals of Family Literacy Day
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Morning and afternoon class attended at separate times
5 stations with a teacher or literacy coach at each
Parents and extended family invited
Enjoy meal together
Send activities for parents & children to do at home
Logistical Details
Bingo Cards
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Fun activities!
Repeatable activities- rhyming cards vs.
worksheet
Relational activities- something parent and
child can enjoy together
Big picture ideas and practical tips
Take Home Folders
Rhyming Memory
Rhyming Memory
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Directions for playing Rhyming Memory
Additional rhyming picture cards
Ideas for extension & Individualization
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Odd Man Out
Rhyming Go Fish
Guess My Card
Take Home Folder
ABC Bingo
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Additional Bingo Cards & Call sheet
ABC Book list
Ideas for teaching letters
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Start with name
Sing ABC song
Sensory ideas for learning letters like in sand,
with play doh, finger paint
Take Home Folder
Read Aloud ~ Interactive Reading
Read Aloud ~ Interactive Reading
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Ideas on how to reference print
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Long words, short words, upper case and
lowercase letters
Pointing to each word
Ideas to extend reading
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Retell story
Draw favorite part of story
Discuss what happened in the beginning,
middle, and end of the story.
Take Home Folder
Make Your Own Valentines
Make Your Own Valentines
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Continuum of children’s writing
Ways to support writing at home
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Making a writing box that includes materials for
writing
Draw a self portrait and pictures of family
Keep a simple journal.
Discuss what your rules are at home. Have your child
help you write them down. Ask them what they think
the rules should be and write them down.
Write a note to a friend or family member
Take Home Folder
Your Name in a Heart
Your Name in a Heart
Your Name in a Heart
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Lots of Books!
Writing tablets, note pads, construction paper
Markers, crayons
Pencils, colored pencils
Play doh
Finger puppets
Stuffed Animals
Prizes!
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Fun and Smiles
High Family Engagement
High Family
Participation
Since then, held a Super
Science Day, Math
Madness, Easter Family
Day
Informal opportunities
for parents to come and
read with children at the
end of the day
What we learned…
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Take a moment to jot down the strengths of
your center/class.
Jot down also the areas of weakness related to
literacy.
How could you adjust what you’ve heard
about today to meet the needs of your center?
What ideas/experiences do you think your
students could benefit from?
Who could you recruit to help? Teachers?
Parents? Volunteers?
Now what?
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http://www.readingresource.net/
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http://www.pre-kpages.com/familynight/
 Low-Cost Pre-Made Family Night Printables
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“Dedicated to helping children learn to read”
Many other Pre-K resources too!
http://www.fcrr.org/for-educators/sca.asp
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Florida Center for Reading Research
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http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2011/07_Jul_
css/index.html
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Rhyming Memory Match Cards are from this website
Dr. Jean’s Parent Pak and Related Resources
http://www.getreadytoread.org/
 Skill Building Activities related to the GRTR Assessment
Planning Resources
Marianne Mitchell
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Marianne.mitchell@hilltop-preschool.org
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1
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2
http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/publicationsresources/family-involvement-in-school-and-low-incomechildren-s-literacy-performance
http://michigan.gov/documents/Final_Parent_Involvemen
t_Fact_Sheet_14732_7.pdf
References