Family Literacy

The Family’s Role in Supporting Literacy Development at Home is your go-to resource for making literacy a fun and engaging part of your family’s daily life! Designed for parents and caregivers of students from Kindergarten through High School, this guide offers simple, research-backed tips to help your child become a confident reader, writer, and communicator.

You’ll discover six powerful roles you can play—Supporter, Encourager, Modeler, Monitor, Advocate, and Co-Creator—each with easy-to-follow suggestions tailored to your child’s age. By using these strategies, you’ll not only strengthen your child’s literacy skills but also build meaningful connections with their teachers, empowering you both to support their success.

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Supporters

6 Roles Families Play in Supporting Literacy

Explore six powerful ways families help children grow as readers and writers—by showing up as supporters, encouragers, modelers, monitors, advocates, and co-creators.

Supporters

Encouragers

Modelers

Monitors

Advocates

Co-Creators

Families As Supporters: Partnering For Literacy Development

Maybe more than any other role, the way you show up as a supporter changes as your child grows! But at its core, the supporter makes sure a child has the time, space, and help at home to build their reading, writing and communication skills.

Provide space and time at home for homework. Establish daily routines in your family so that everyone knows when it is time to focus. A comfortable andquiet work area can make a huge difference!

If your child is very active, make sure they get brainbreaks to exercise when completing difficult literacytasks.

Talk to your child regularly, using rich vocabulary to help expand their language skills, which are foundational for literacy development.

Be available to assist with literacy assignments, editing essays, or brainstorming writing ideas when your child feels stuck. Try to offer guidance without taking over!

Families As Supporters: Partnering For Literacy Development

Maybe more than any other role, the way you show up as a supporter changes as your child grows! But at its core, the supporter makes sure a child has the time, space, and help at home to build their reading, writing and communication skills.

Ask children questions about what they are reading that require more than yes/no answers. For example, "Why do you think the character did that?" or "What do you think will happen next?" Consider asking about character, plot, theme, and setting.

Read together every day! Bedtime stories, especially when you take turns reading aloud, create opportunities for bonding and expose children to new vocabulary, sentence structures, and ideas.

Families As Supporters: Partnering For Literacy Development

Maybe more than any other role, the way you show up as a supporter changes as your child grows! But at its core, the supporter makes sure a child has the time, space, and help at home to build their reading, writing and communication skills.

Create a schedule to try and get your child in bed a little early with a book! Even the most reluctant middle schoolers really appreciate the downtime and might even find they like it. They also need plenty of rest for their brains to keep growing.

Help your child make connections between their reading and real life by discussing how stories relate to their experiences or current events. Middle school students love talking about themselves!

Families As Supporters: Partnering For Literacy Development

Maybe more than any other role, the way you show up as a supporter changes as your child grows! But at its core, the supporter makes sure a child has the time, space, and help at home to build their reading, writing and communication skills.

Read books your child is reading at school and talk about them at dinner or find interesting news articles related to their units of study to read and discuss together.

Help your student access practice tests and study guides for literacy-based standardized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT) to improve reading comprehension and writing skills.

Help your child with organization and time management of larger literacy projects. For example, if your child is responsible for writing a literary analysis of a novel, help them plan out a calendar when they will read the book, create a first draft, edit, and turn in a final copy.

Supporting Literacy Development as a Lifelong Partnership

As children grow, your role as a supporter evolves, but the goal remains the same: providing time, space, and encouragement to strengthen their literacy skills. From reading together in early grades to guiding organization and study habits in high school, your support is key to their success. By fostering a love of reading and writing, you’re helping build a foundation for lifelong learning.

Encouragers

Families as Encouragers: Partnering for Literacy Development

Think about the ways your friends and family encourage you! Sometimes, this might be words of affirmation or, other times, the push to persevere through difficult tasks. As the Science of Reading tells us, literacy development is no easy feat! Becoming a skilled reader, writer, and communicator takes effort and time. Your encouragement goes a long way, and it can look different at different ages. Patience and positive reinforcement are key to helping them succeed.

Be your child’s #1 fan and celebrate literacy achievements, no matter how small! Positive reinforcement boosts confidence and motivation.

Encourage daily reading by setting aside time for reading at home, whether during a family quiet hour or before bed.

Families as Encouragers: Partnering for Literacy Development

Think about the ways your friends and family encourage you! Sometimes, this might be words of affirmation or, other times, the push to persevere through difficult tasks. As the Science of Reading tells us, literacy development is no easy feat! Becoming a skilled reader, writer, and communicator takes effort and time. Your encouragement goes a long way, and it can look different at different ages. Patience and positive reinforcement are key to helping them succeed.

Nurture their curiosity by providing a wide range of reading materials. This can include magazines, picture books, chapter books, anthologies, comic books, and more!

Tell stories of your life! Kids love hearing stories about their families, especially when they were young. Include a clear beginning, middle, and end, which helps kids understand the plot and narration.

Have paper and pencil at the ready! Kids will surprise you and sit down to write silly stories, lists, and notes when they are “bored.” Don’t fret about spelling during fun writing time.

Families as Encouragers: Partnering for Literacy Development

Think about the ways your friends and family encourage you! Sometimes, this might be words of affirmation or, other times, the push to persevere through difficult tasks. As the Science of Reading tells us, literacy development is no easy feat! Becoming a skilled reader, writer, and communicator takes effort and time. Your encouragement goes a long way, and it can look different at different ages. Patience and positive reinforcement are key to helping them succeed.

Provide time for your child to write creatively at home, such as by keeping a journal, writing letters, or composing poems or short stories. Encourage them to share what they write with friends and teachers.

Show interest in what your child is learning at school. If the school is focusing on a particular topic, find documentaries, magazines, articles, and other books to have around for them to read or watch with you.

Families as Encouragers: Partnering for Literacy Development

Think about the ways your friends and family encourage you! Sometimes, this might be words of affirmation or, other times, the push to persevere through difficult tasks. As the Science of Reading tells us, literacy development is no easy feat! Becoming a skilled reader, writer, and communicator takes effort and time. Your encouragement goes a long way, and it can look different at different ages. Patience and positive reinforcement are key to helping them succeed.

Praise effort, especially when students tackle difficult texts or writing assignments, emphasizing that growth comes from persistence.

Suggest journaling, blogging, or writing short stories outside of school assignments to foster a personal connection to writing. Ask them to share their writing with you and give them positive feedback.

Encourage your child to use apps that support reading and writing skills, such as Grammarly or e-reader apps like Kindle. Suggest audiobooks to build comprehension and vocabulary in an accessible format.

Families as Encouragers: Partnering for Literacy Development

Think about the ways your friends and family encourage you! Sometimes, this might be words of affirmation or, other times, the push to persevere through difficult tasks. As the Science of Reading tells us, literacy development is no easy feat! Becoming a skilled reader, writer, and communicator takes effort and time. Your encouragement goes a long way, and it can look different at different ages. Patience and positive reinforcement are key to helping them succeed.

Modelers

Families as Modelers: Partnering for Literacy Development

As a caregiver, you are your child's most influential role model. Your actions and words shape their behavior, giving you the opportunity to foster literacy development at home. By modeling positive reading, writing, and communication habits, you inspire your child to build strong literacy skills and create a supportive environment that complements their learning at school.

Let your child see you reading for pleasure so they understand that reading is enjoyable and important. Parents can read books, newspapers, or even digital content, showing that reading is a lifelong habit.

By participating in school literacy nights, author visits, or family literacy programs, families show their support for the importance of reading and writing in their child’s life. This also shows the child that adults take literacy seriously.

Families as Modelers: Partnering for Literacy Development

As a caregiver, you are your child's most influential role model. Your actions and words shape their behavior, giving you the opportunity to foster literacy development at home. By modeling positive reading, writing, and communication habits, you inspire your child to build strong literacy skills and create a supportive environment that complements their learning at school.

Include your child in writing-related tasks at home, like making grocery lists, drafting thank-you notes, or creating a family newsletter. This demonstrates the real-life application of writing skills.

Kids have vivid imaginations and love story telling. Help them become articulate communicators by taking turns adding to a made-up story. Model how you make up stories to be funny, spooky, sad, or shocking to get kids to think about different plot, settings, tone, and action.

Use a rich vocabulary in conversations with your child. Explain new words, use them in context, and encourage your child to use them as well.

Families as Modelers: Partnering for Literacy Development

As a caregiver, you are your child's most influential role model. Your actions and words shape their behavior, giving you the opportunity to foster literacy development at home. By modeling positive reading, writing, and communication habits, you inspire your child to build strong literacy skills and create a supportive environment that complements their learning at school.

Demonstrate how you use literacy skills every day! Let them see you writing emails, reading books, researching home improvements, etc. Share with them when you learn new things from reading.

Share insights about the books or articles you’re reading. Discuss interesting points or ask questions about the content. This shows your child that reading is an active, engaging process.

Show kids how you tackle new words. If you come across a new word or one you don't know the meaning of, say aloud, “I wonder what this word means...” Then, grab a dictionary or look up the meaning online together.

Families as Modelers: Partnering for Literacy Development

Think about the ways your friends and family encourage you! Sometimes, this might be words of affirmation or, other times, the push to persevere through difficult tasks. As the Science of Reading tells us, literacy development is no easy feat! Becoming a skilled reader, writer, and communicator takes effort and time. Your encouragement goes a long way, and it can look different at different ages. Patience and positive reinforcement are key to helping them succeed.

Take up new learning challenges (like reading about a new topic or skill) and share that journey with your child. Show them that being a reader and writer makes life more interesting.

Start a Family Book Club. Pick a book you and your child will read and discuss together.

Families as Modelers: Partnering for Literacy Development

As a model for your child, you play a crucial role in shaping their literacy habits. By demonstrating positive reading, writing, and communication behaviors, you create a supportive environment that encourages your child to value literacy.

Whether it's reading for pleasure, discussing books, or using rich vocabulary in everyday tasks, your actions inspire them to build strong literacy skills that will benefit them throughout their life. Your involvement shows that literacy is not only essential for school success but also a lifelong pursuit that enriches daily living.

Monitors

Families as Monitors: Partnering for Literacy Development

It is easy to miss information in today’s fast-paced world, especially one with so many apps! Playing the role of Monitor in your child's literacy development means you know what your child should know and can do as they grow as a reader. Monitoring your child’s growth in literacy also means that you know how to access online grade books at home, ask their teachers the right questions, and interpret the information the school shares with you about your child’s literacy skills. When you play the role of monitor, you can ensure that your child is on track with their literacy development and, when they are not, help them access support and interventions.

Ask your child’s teacher(s) questions about their literacy development to ensure you have all the information you need to support their growth at home. Consider asking: What reading level should my child be on at their grade level? What should my child know and be able to do when it comes to reading, writing and communicating? What is my child’s current reading level?

If your child is at or above their targeted reading level, ask what you can do to make sure they remain engaged and continue to grow. If your child is behind, ask what you can do to help catch them up?

Read the Colorado Department of Education’s testing resource for educators and parents and ask your child’s teacher what tests will be administered and ask how you will receive results.

Families as Monitors: Partnering for Literacy Development

It is easy to miss information in today’s fast-paced world, especially one with so many apps! Playing the role of Monitor in your child's literacy development means you know what your child should know and can do as they grow as a reader. Monitoring your child’s growth in literacy also means that you know how to access online grade books at home, ask their teachers the right questions, and interpret the information the school shares with you about your child’s literacy skills. When you play the role of monitor, you can ensure that your child is on track with their literacy development and, when they are not, help them access support and interventions.

Before parent-teacher conferences, email your child’s teacher asking for copies of any literacy testing data that will be discussed at the meeting. When you have face time with the teacher, you become familiar with the data and can ask the right questions.

Check if your child is sounding out hard words or skipping over them when they read. When your child has sounded out an unfamiliar word, have them re-read that sentence. Often, kids are so busy figuring out a word they lose the meaning of what they’ve just read!

Use a rich vocabulary in conversations with your child. Explain new words, use them in context, and encourage your child to use them as well.

Families as Monitors: Partnering for Literacy Development

It is easy to miss information in today’s fast-paced world, especially one with so many apps! Playing the role of Monitor in your child's literacy development means you know what your child should know and can do as they grow as a reader. Monitoring your child’s growth in literacy also means that you know how to access online grade books at home, ask their teachers the right questions, and interpret the information the school shares with you about your child’s literacy skills. When you play the role of monitor, you can ensure that your child is on track with their literacy development and, when they are not, help them access support and interventions.

Observe reading habits at home. Check if your child is reading regularly and discuss books with them. Ask the teacher for recommendations on age-appropriate books and reading strategies.

Ask your child’s English teacher for assessment results and progress reports. Teachers can provide insights into these assessments and what they indicate about your child's literacy skills.

Families as Monitors: Partnering for Literacy Development

It is easy to miss information in today’s fast-paced world, especially one with so many apps! Playing the role of Monitor in your child's literacy development means you know what your child should know and can do as they grow as a reader. Monitoring your child’s growth in literacy also means that you know how to access online grade books at home, ask their teachers the right questions, and interpret the information the school shares with you about your child’s literacy skills. When you play the role of monitor, you can ensure that your child is on track with their literacy development and, when they are not, help them access support and interventions.

Set a daily or weekly time for reviewing reading and writing assignments with your child to ensure they are completed on time and with good effort.

Regularly check the school’s online grade book or portal for updates on assignments, grades, and literacy-focused tasks, ensuring your child stays on track. Even better if your child learns how to check their grades, too!

Advocates

Families as Advocates: Partnering for Literacy Development

Families who show up as advocates for their children when it comes to literacy development ensure that their child has the necessary support, resources, and opportunities to build strong reading and writing skills.

As a family, you can instill in your children that literacy is not just about reading and writing but also about understanding the world, advocating for oneself, and participating in society. Let your child see you advocate for better literacy resources and programs in your school and community.

In multilingual households, advocate for reading and writing in both languages; there is immense value in being literate in multiple languages.

Ask your child’s school what additional resources or interventions, such as tutoring, specialized reading programs, or assessments for learning differences like dyslexia, are available through the school. See specific questions to ask teachers so you know what to advocate for on the Families as Monitors: Partnering for Literacy Development page.

Advocate for literacy by participating in community-wide efforts, such as promoting reading initiatives at local libraries, volunteering in literacy programs, or starting neighborhood reading clubs or book drives.

Families as Advocates: Partnering for Literacy Development

Families who show up as advocates for their children when it comes to literacy development ensure that their child has the necessary support, resources, and opportunities to build strong reading and writing skills.

As a family, you can instill in your children that literacy is not just about reading and writing but also about understanding the world, advocating for oneself, and participating in society. Let your child see you advocate for better literacy resources and programs in your school and community.

Share observations with the teacher because you know your child best! If your child is struggling with something or showing particular interest in certain aspects of literacy, communicate this with the teacher so they can tailor support and inspire growth.

Ask your child’s teacher to allow for some individual reading preferences by allowing kids to select books that interest them, even if they are not traditional or academic. This can include graphic novels, comics, or non-fiction books. Advocate to build a culture that loves reading!

Families as Advocates: Partnering for Literacy Development

Families who show up as advocates for their children when it comes to literacy development ensure that their child has the necessary support, resources, and opportunities to build strong reading and writing skills.

As a family, you can instill in your children that literacy is not just about reading and writing but also about understanding the world, advocating for oneself, and participating in society. Let your child see you advocate for better literacy resources and programs in your school and community.

Push for the availability of after-school reading and writing clubs, book fairs, or literacy tutoring programs to ensure that children have continued support and inspiration outside regular school hours.

Become familiar with the books that your child has access to. Ask for inclusive and diverse books to be included in your child’s school curriculum to ensure that students are exposed to a wide range of perspectives, cultures, and experiences through literature.

Families as Advocates: Partnering for Literacy Development

Families who show up as advocates for their children when it comes to literacy development ensure that their child has the necessary support, resources, and opportunities to build strong reading and writing skills.

As a family, you can instill in your children that literacy is not just about reading and writing but also about understanding the world, advocating for oneself, and participating in society. Let your child see you advocate for better literacy resources and programs in your school and community.

Ask for access to digital literacy programs through your school or district. Access to e-books, educational apps, and online resources that enhance reading and writing skills can introduce children to a whole new way to enjoy and improve literacy.

If your child is struggling, advocate for tailored interventions like one-on-one tutoring, access to a reading specialist, or placement in a literacy support class. Don’t assume that a child still struggling with literacy skills in high school will get the help they need — be proactive!