Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Kathleen - When planning a Family Literacy Night, there would be more than one format to consider. There could be stations set up, and people would circulate to do different book or reading related activities. Or there could be a presenter who addresses the whole group, then an activity or activities follow. There could be activities that entertain children, there could be activities that instruct parents about how to support developing literacy. And of course the format could combine several or all of those elements.
noreen/admin/ga - It's a purchased program that tells you how to conduct the meetings. Our district has just adopted the 4-blocks model and the focus of pip is helping parents help their children with reading at home.
sue - kat, I have a fam lit night planned for January 25th-- we're doing a combination
Mary - Gee Kathleen is there anything left?
noreen/admin/ga - Our pip program is like what Kathleen just described.
jb/tx/2 - it looks fine on mine Kat
sue - we're having celebrity readers and stations set up for the parents and kids to work together and areas that will help parents teach specific skills needed
meeha/ece/tx - Kind of seems like she stole the conversation, doesn't it, Mary!
meeha/ece/tx - Sue -- that sounds like a great idea!
meeha/ece/tx - celebrity readers (local?) any children's authors locally who might step in?
sue - we're going to have chart stories, listening centers set up, an authors chair for the kids to read the stories they have written....
Julie - I am an America Reads Program tutor and we had a family Literacy night. this consisted of A bingo game of books for the students and we had stations of information about the program as well as some activities that parents could do with their child.
meeha/ece/tx - I've heard two or three different children's authors on the processes they go through to publish a book ... Anne Jonas and Jan Brett are excellent!
sue - meeha, not children's authors, local sports people, dj's, mentors
Mary - Is writing included in any of the choices?
sue - julie, we will have a bingo card with each square for activities, complete 10/12 and get a free bookmark1
meeha/ece/tx - I think that those people coming in to read puts an emphasis on the value of reading to many children, Sue!
sue - mary- they are going to have a center on writing a new ending to story and a center with story starters
noreen/admin/ga - I like the idea of celebrity readers. I think I'll suggest it for a future family night.
sue - we're doing a computer station with books on cd, a rebus station, and a puppet theatre for story retelling
sue - what are some of the other activates yall have done?
meeha/ece/tx - Sue ... no local company will underwrite to offer a free book for completing 10 / 12?
Mary - I have a video "Reading With Your Child" made by Moorhead Public Schools in Moorhead Minnesota - any one here ever see it? Could it be a part of a Family Lit Night?The Moorhead, Minnesota Reading Recovery Teachers in cooperation with Moorhead State University Production Department produced a parent education video that is available to purchase. The video reaches parents from all age groups. Several districts have purchased it to send home with their Reading Recovery students for parent viewing. In addition, videos were given to our local hospitals, elementary schools, and libraries for parent viewing.
The cost of the video is $20.00 plus $2.00 shipping and handling.
If you are interested in purchasing the video, READING WITH YOUR CHILD,
Send a check payable to Moorhead Area Public Schools to:Moorhead Area Public Schools
Reading Recovery Program
310 14th Ave South
Moorhead, MN 56560Julie - during our literacy night we had book stores donate books and we had a number of great books and we gave each child an opportunity to pick one out if they had won the bingo game.
sue - meeha, we're hitting them for free door prizes,lots of them LOL!
noreen/admin/ga - I'm looking for ideas that will encourage parents in title 1 schools to become involved in their children's schooling. Does anyone have any great ideas?
meeha/ece/tx - NIE? have a newspaper representative come and talk with parents/demonstrate use of the newspaper to encourage literacy of young readers!
sue - noreen, so you have a take home reading backpack program? we've had one in place for the past 2 yrs. It works!
Julie - Sue what kind of door prizes
et - any good ideas for a poetry unit--3rd grade
Kathleen - noreen, have you tried the take home backpack/bags with book and related activities? Or are you looking for more global ideas than that?
noreen/admin/ga - what is a take home reading backpack program?...take home readers?
sue - julie, books, our theme is under sea/fish so we're having a pet shop donate goldfish and beta fish, too
Kathleen - noreen, child takes home a bag or backpack with a storybook to be read at home, and some related activities.
sue - noreen, we call them book buddies, readers with response journals. since I have a large percent of non reading parents we do a listen and read program, too
noreen/admin/ga - our teachers do have take home readers in baggies. It seems to work well for many students. We have FROG, too.
meeha/ece/tx - sue, too fun! come to read and take home a pet!
sue - kat, family lit night would be a great time to introduce a new take home reading program
Kathleen - BJ couldn't be here but offered this: We showed parents and students some easy ways to make books at home and gave parents a list of simple, repetitive sentences to be used in their books...ex: I like to eat_________. I can see a ___________. Then we gave them magazines to search for pictures to go with whatever they chose as their sentence. The parents and children loved working together to create a book and, hopefully, went home and made more.
Kathleen - noreen, family literacy nights would be a very good start toward your goal.
sue - here;s another idea--- we're issuing a challenge to the principal to come to school in pajamas if the school reads over 1000 books in 4 months
Kathleen - Teri couldn't be here but sent this: We are centering ours on Clifford and his birthday. I will have several stations set up with Clifford activities like making Clifford ears, painting the kids' noses black, making B-day cards for Clifford, etc. I have a storyteller coming and the children are going to share a few songs about book characters. To end the night Clifford (person in costume) will come out and we will all share birthday treats. I have been collecting as much Clifford merchandise as possible. We will either give this away as door prizes or raffle them.
noreen/admin/ga - I'm new at this school. The teachers started it last year. we're planning our first family night in January.
meeha/ece/tx - how many kids in your school, sue?
Kathleen - noreen, how did you learn of tonight's meeting?
sue - meeha, over 700 but PK alone read right at 450 from Feb to may last year,
Mary - Does anyone ever have the local library people come to tell about all the opportunities offered at their fine establishments?
noreen/admin/ga - I'm on the administrator's mailring and got an email from you!
Kathleen - Kyle couldn't be here but sent this: We had treats for the kids and parents, we had the student and one of their parents wrap a shoe box with construction paper and then we had the student read a story to their parent. This was first grade.[I wrote back to ask for more information about the purpose of wrapping the box, but haven't received a response yet.]
sue - it's easier if you have a theme, we're choosing all sea/fish related books
Kathleen - Mary, that would be a wonderful addition to a Fam. Literacy Night, info from town librarian
meeha/ece/tx - we have a WONDERFUL children's librarian who comes out and reads with the kids when asked!
Kathleen - One format is to have a children's author and/or illustrator present, then have the children work with their family-guests to create a book of their own, perhaps on a theme similar to one of the guest author's books.
sue - we're also have a library card sign up table at fam lit night
Kathleen - What activities could be offered at stations, with attendees circulating through?
Kathleen - One station could be the Library Card sign-up
Kathleen - One could be a create-a-snack table, snack related to a story book (Very Hungry Caterpillar: have foods mentioned in the book)
sue - kat, listening center, story extensions ie make a fish with rainbow fish
noreen/admin/ga - Our media specialist hosted a book fair last month which coincided with our business partner's get involved day. that really boosted her sales.
meeha/ece/tx - i wonder if a 'book care' station might be a good idea -- clean hands, no drinks, storage ideas, etc.
sue - kat, does every have the book Mr Wiggles? It's about taking care of books.
Kathleen - I think keeping everyone busy and entertained would be important. And maybe every child should go home with a book, one created that evening, or one purchased or earned that night in some way
Mary - Is there a way to provide the parents who are doing a great job of providing their children with literary experiences at home share what they do with other parents?
Kathleen - noreen, good idea. Book Fair during the Lit. Night
Kathleen - sue, I'm not familiar with that book
sue - mary, why not a parents sharing area, have them write the ideas on large construction paper hearts and hang them for others to read
noreen/admin/ga - how do you get parents of ESL students involved. how do you overcome the language barrier?
meeha/ece/tx - how about an informal survey sent out ahead of time ... parents could answer questions, the ideas could be compiled for a hand-out of how parents keep literacy alive in the home as a station!
Julie - at our night we did it during Dr. Seuss's Birthday
Kathleen - meeha, yes good handouts would be helpful as a follow up
sue - noreen, in my class we have bilingual books
meeha/ece/tx - noreen ... get the ESL teachers involved, get a competent interpreter for each language ... help them see the need for literacy in BOTH languages!
sue - don't forget the poem read to me
Read To Me
By Jane YolenRead to me riddles and read to me rhymes,
Read to me stories of magical times.
Read to me tales about castles and kings.
Read to me stories of fabulous things.
Read to me pirates and read to me knights,
Read to me dragons and dragon-book fights.
Read to me spaceships and cowboys and then,
When you are finished -- please read them again.noreen/admin/ga - how many family nights per year do you have? how often?
Kathleen - Julie, did you offer stations with different activities? Was everything planned around a Seuss theme?
sue - kat, I think it's from mccracken
Mary - Why not have areas where the families of the ESL kids can display and share examples of books and other reading and writing items from their native land? I would love to browse through things like that. Show them that you value where they come from and the experiences that they have to share with us all.
sue - noreen, we will have 3 special events this yr-- family lit, family math and cajun day
Kathleen - Does anyone have an opinion about whether there should be a speaker who addresses all of the adults about the importance of support for reading at home? Or would that take away from the hands-on nature of the event?
noreen/admin/ga - At our school we have one half-time esl teacher and only one teacher who speaks spanish, the most frequently used language other than English.
meeha/ece/tx - one station could be a snack ... 'cup cooking' type thing -- rebus and word chart -- have to read to make the snack ... could have items pre-packaged (good parent involvement) to address some sanitation issue questions
Kathleen - Good ideas, keep them coming..
sue - kat, we're doing to address that with the kickoff/intro. they will read the read to me poem and have a short speech
Julie - we had a couple of stations. A few were ideas for the parents and some information on the America reads program. tutors were there to meet with parents and there tutees. We had refreshments. We had a bingo with Dr. Seuss books on them and they had to finish sentences about the books etc.
meeha/ece/tx - Kathleen ... how about if that was a single station ... would encourage interaction with the presenter (smaller group) and kind of keep things going!
sue - meeha, we did that a family math night
Mary - Kathleen, that's where the video that I mentioned earlier could be used. It could be shown over and over and wouldn't require a person to do it over and over - folks could view it as they come to it
sue - how many activities did yall have for your lit night/
Kathleen - Mary, good idea, a continuously shown video. children would have to be occupied elsewhere while adults watch it, and it would have to be succinct
Kathleen - When planning a Family Literacy Night, there would be more than one format to consider. There could be stations set up, and people would circulate to do different book or reading related activities. Or there could be a presenter who addresses the whole group, then an activity or activities follow. There could be activities that entertain children, there could be activities that instruct parents about how to support developing literacy. And of course the format could combine several or all of those elements.
meeha/ece/tx - a station addressing 'environmental print' might be a plus ... or reading in the car -- signs, car tags, store names ...
Mary - Is there a way to bring in the non-reading parents and make them feel comfortable and maybe interested in signing up for an adult literacy program, or would that be too uncomfortable?
Kathleen - One or more stations could demonstrate, and help the kids construct, various types of books: folded books, pop-up books, peek-throughs. And emphasis should be on activities that make use of materials easily obtained at home (cereal box cardboard, junk mail paper, etc)
meeha/ece/tx - Mary ... one way is to offer a big section of the repetitive readers that our children love so much ... there is little threat in reading them ... and they can start reading with their children there! adult literacy staffers available to offer help would be a great idea!
Kathleen - Mary, it would be an important addition, if it were to be truly a FAMILY Literacy event. I'm sure the Literacy Volunteers Org. would know how to do that tactfully.
sue - kat, I have a special workshop for my parents on book making but that would be a great addition
Kathleen - I suppose games based upon materials found at home, like finding words within words on cereal boxes (such as "real" in cereal)
sue - julie, just log in and go to the gradeboard and click on ec, will be there by tomorrow morning
Evelyb-AL - Hi Everyone. Anyone know of some good literacy sites on the web that have good ideas for share.
AbbyPA - Kathleen, I'm late joining you...have you been talking about Family Literacy Nights for families of children in specific grades?
sue - we never did say a specific grade, ours will be Pk-3, older grades will help
Genie/GA/k - What all takes place during Family Literacy Night? Activities around a certain theme or any kind of literacy activity?
meeha/ece/tx - how about getting a music teacher involved in family literacy night? make some song posters and sing the reading! i think that is FAR less intimidating to parents with very limited reading skills -- at least at home.
sue - meeha, great idea. We might do that with our color word books
Evelyb-AL - One idea may be making transparencies of a book and letting the children read in a choral group, parents joining.
Mary - Evelyn, would that be legal?
sue - here's another idea-- creating and illustrating silly stories.
sue - kids pick the nouns, verbs, and adjectives from different jars and create their sentences
meeha/ece/tx - or how about ed emberly's fingerprint pics transformed into characters/stories?
Evelyb-AL - This could be your own version of a book. We make class books of rhyming sentences, filling in their own words.
emma - we had a storyteller from the University come and it was great!
Evelyb-AL - How many sessions do you have each and is this just an hour long event?
sue - now, that we have all these ideas, what kind of budget does everyone have?
sue - Evelyn- we are planning for a 2 hr event
emma - we also had treats the PTA purchased at a discount from Wendy's their frozen frosty**Serve food and they will come!**
Kathleen - This just arrived by e-mail from Destiny: We had a family literacy night at our school last month for grades K-5. Our problem was that most of the targeted families did not attend. We sent personal invitations to each family targeted and also a reminder of free food and fun. We also recommended which sessions might benefit them the most. We offered different sessions. Parents could choose 2 to attend. Each session earned every person who attended a ticket for free tacos at our book fair. The book fair lasted from 5:30-8:00. Session 1 6:00-6:30 and Session 2 6:30-7:00. All sessions were offered at each interval. The sessions were Animated Literacy-- Jim Stone's program of characters, sounds, actions, songs, drawing, writing, etc. All ages were invited because skills are at all levels. Decoding--What to do when your child gets stuck on a word. (We went over, the chart of possible strategies and where to start not sound it out). Finally we handed out leveled library book lists and reading toolkit pages. Sight Words--Games vs. Flash cards, a make it, take it and try it activity. QAR-Question Answer Relationships, right there, think and search, author and you, and finally on your own. Anticipation Guides--How to spark interest in non-fiction materials. Neurological Impress--How to work on fluency painlessly.
meeha/ece/tx - in my area I've just learned of a resource that offers at least $30,000 annually -- they have trouble GIVING the $$ away because no one applies for it!
Evelyb-AL - Thanks Sue. How about donations from corporate sponsors to buy books?
emma - We also had a book draw so when you came you got a ticket to enter into the drawing
sue - emma, how many kids?
Evelyb-AL - Kathleen, where do they get their handouts of information for the sessions?
emma - well our school has over 500 students and we had a great turn out.....like i said serve food and they will come! no joke!
sue - how about intro the pizza hut book it program at family lit night, too?
sue - emma, where are you?
Kathleen - US Dept of Ed pubs in the series, "Helping Your Child" http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/hyc.html
meeha/ece/tx - emma ... that has been one of the 'calling cards' I've seen that works, too! ... or get their children performing a couple of books -- put the kids on stage and the parents show up!
sue - kat, they will only send you one copy.
sunrise - Hi all! Many times it happens that the families that would benefit the most from activities like these, are the ones that do not show up.
emma - sue--Washington state
Kathleen - Evelyn, I don't have direct experience, but I would imagine from such sources as Dept of Ed. RIF, naeyc, and various other orgs.
Evelyb-AL - Sue, any suggestions for materials to hand out? How to get more than one copy.
JanieK - Great idea Sue to intro Pizza Hut Book It at that time.
Mary - sunrise, that's what I'd like to over come
sue - sunrise, we actually bribe the kids LOL! All kids who come to the fam nights get free homework passes. the class with the most kids gets a cupcake and punch party
emma - sunrise you are sooo right! Has anyone heard of the "Paired Reading" training video?
Mary - How do you get those families to participate?
sunrise - yeah, tell me how- I've seen it for 30 years
Kathleen - Reading is Fundamental http://www.rif.org/
Evelyb-AL - Do you only have a few grade levels at a time?
Mary - I think emma has a good hook - food
emma - we set up a training session for parent's using this video and it is great! Teaches parents how to read with their child only about 15 minutes long!
Kathleen - NEA (National Ed. Assoc) has materials http://nea.org
sue - emma, sounds like an emma from my area!
meeha/ece/tx - hi, nana318 and Sura!
sue - kat, will rif donate books?
Evelyb-AL - Thanks, we are wanting to do this at our school and start a literacy web page as well.
Kathleen - Food, yes! A reading of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, then kids & parents decorate cookies then eat them
Kathleen - sue, I don't think they will donate books, but they probably would send flyers about importance of reading
Evelyb-AL - Emma, what is the video again, sorry.
emma - I had my 5th graders watch the training video and now we work with the 1st graders 1 a week and they (5th graders)think they are sooo "cool" since they have gone through the training
JanieK - Emma, can you tell me where the Paired Reading video can be obtained?
meeha/ece/tx - if you want to cover multiple grades, maybe it would be worthwhile getting a couple of teachers and the local honor society -- or a troupe of older girl scouts -- to watch the children and let the parents 'go through the motions' ...
sue - kat, they used to donate books at all area school here
Kathleen - Maybe the kids should each have books they created in school on display that evening, and they should read their books to the guests
sue - kat, that's out author's chair
meeha/ece/tx - do the 'young author' activities in conjunction with the evening event?
emma - The reading video is called "Paired Reading" It is fantastic! We have parents at all levels check it out from the office and our principal does night sessions for parents who want to come and learn how to read with their kids - http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~hkatz/RRDC/Videos.html
sue - emma, who is it by?
Evelyb-AL - Emma, who produces it or where can you buy it>
emma - also---an idea would be to have the public library there to represent getting signed up for library cards
emma - I am not kidding guys it is a worthwhile video to order! Very short but much good information about reading with a child
Kathleen - Oh, you could have listening centers set up and have tapes of the kids reading in the classroom
Kathleen - The Family Literacy Night hall or rooms should have displays that explain terms like shared reading, guided reading,
Mary - That is important, Kathleen, sometime we forget that not everyone knows those terms
Kathleen - You could raise funds that evening with a Polaroid camera, take photo of child with guest/s attach to paper, child and guest write about favorite book, or write something about the experience of the evening
Kathleen - Even charts showing what are consonants and what are vowels
Kathleen - As Mary mentioned, everyone should receive and take home info about Public Library offerings and hours
Kathleen - NEA's Read Across America site http://www.nea.org/readacross/
Kathleen - meeha, thanks for guiding the discussion tonight! goodnight all.
meeha/ece/tx - glad to help! :-)
Chatboards Lesson Plans K12 Projects Teacher Blogs Mailrings Classified Ads Teacher Jobs Live Chat Live Meetings Articles Harry Wong Printables
© 1996 - 2009. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.
