Welcome to a comprehensive guide on unlocking literacy for teachers and parents provided by Hinze and Thompson Edventures. As professionals in the field, we understand the importance of supporting both educators and caregivers in promoting literacy skills among students.
Literacy forms the foundation of academic success, and it is essential for educators and parents to collaborate in nurturing this skill. Hinze and Thompson Edventures offer expert tips to help enhance young learners' literacy development. Here are some key takeaways:
Utilize Multisensory Techniques: Incorporating activities that engage multiple senses can reinforce literacy skills. Encourage students to participate in hands-on activities, such as tracing letters in sand or forming words with letter tiles, to make learning interactive and fun.
Teachers - We recommend the book Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills, Fourth Edition by Judith R. Birsh and Suzanne Carreker. This text covers all the big ideas of reading and integrates multisensory and structured literacy instruction. Spelling, oral language, and executive functioning are also addressed in this book. If you teach reading this is an outstanding resource that includes evidence-based routines, additional websites and resources to help plan for instruction, and all the research cited to ensure it's the best. There is also a companion activity book that has over 100 activities on executive function, oral language, composition, phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, syllable division, spelling, decoding, fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension.
Parents - Check out this Reading Rockets article that has Multisensory Learning at Home: Tips for Parents. It mentions audiobooks and at this link from We Are Teachers, you can find a list of sites with free audiobooks for your children to listen to. Games that require reading and spelling are outstanding ways to sneak literacy practice in. Games like Zingo, Bananagrams, Scrabble, Boggle, Apples to Apples, Blurt, and Balderdash all build literacy skills while playing.
Encourage Reading Aloud: Reading aloud to children has numerous benefits, including improving vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills. Parents and teachers can take turns reading to students to foster a love for storytelling and reading.
Teachers - The Hidden Power of Read Alouds article from ASCD is a great place to start to think about how to integrate this practice into your classroom and ensure it is a high quality interaction for students.
Parents - If you are needing a place to start on what books to get or read aloud, Common Sense Media has a great list of books that are targeted for read alouds. You can see what the book is about, tell you as the parent what you need to know about the book as well as filter the list by age of your child. If you are looking for a digital read aloud Reading is Fundamental has a great list of video read alouds. Some are read by the author and some by actors and musicians but they are all done very well.
Provide Access to Diverse Reading Materials: Offering various reading materials, including books, magazines, and digital resources, can cater to different interests and learning styles. This exposure helps students discover their preferences and cultivates a love for reading.
Teachers - We Need Diverse Books has a wealth of titles to consider adding to your library. (And check out the parent link below - would be good ones to add to your library as well)
Parents - 15 Reading Materials That Aren't Books from Scholastic has an outstanding list of texts to read that aren't books and the reason they are so great.
Foster a Positive Learning Environment: Creating a supportive and encouraging environment is crucial for literacy development. Celebrate small victories, provide constructive feedback, and instill confidence in students to help them thrive academically.
Teachers - Reading Rockets article on Literacy Rich Environments is a worthy read as you prepare for your new school year.
Parents - The National Center on Improving Literacy has a toolkit on Supporting Your Child's Literacy Development. This toolkit helps parents and families take part in literacy experiences at home to develop children’s reading and language skills. It has resources for preschool, elementary, and adolescents.
By implementing these expert tips and utilizing the resources provided, educators and parents can play a pivotal role in unlocking literacy skills in students. Together, we can create a generation of confident and proficient readers, setting the stage for lifelong learning and success.
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