Parent and Guardian Handbook
You are the biggest influence in your child’s life; you are your child’s first and best teacher. Even teenagers in the midst of rebellion seek your approval and love.
The most useful and nurturing action you can take to ensure your child’s success in his or her formal schooling is to create a home environment that encourages and supports reading and writing. Creating a family literacy foundation is both simple and economical: read aloud to your child from the day they are born; sing and share family stories; turn off the TV and computers and share family conversations with your child; and take your child to your neighborhood public library weekly, borrowing books that interest you and your child. Taking these actions will not only help your children succeed in school, you will also be giving them the tools they need to become successful later in their personal and professional lives.
We have created the Parent and Guardian Handbook to help you encourage your children to become lifelong readers and writers. Click on a category or scroll down to discover a wide variety of ideas and activities that will help you expand your children’s language experience and expression.
General Interest
Reading
Writing
Linking Literacy to Everyday Tasks
Summertime Fun
Suggested Reading for Kids and Families
General Interest
Parent & Guardian Literacy Basics
Parent Tips for Encouraging Reading and Literacy Development
Kids See, Kids Do! Become a Literacy Role Model
Reading and Writing: An Open Letter to Parents by Dean Schneider and Robin Smith
Back to School: Reducing the Stress!
How to Bridge the Cultural Experience Gap
Family Date Night at the Library: An Affordable Night Out
Holiday Dinners: Avoiding the Kids’ Table Syndrome
The Holidays! A Perfect Time to Share Family Stories
Reading
“How to Raise a Reader” by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo in the New York Times.
Helping Your First Grader Learn to Read
Use Technology to Read to Your Child, Even When You’re Far From Home
Creating a Home Library for Your Family on a Limited Budget
Tips from a Book Critic for Selecting Great Books
Read the Book First! How to Use Digital Media to Enhance Your Child’s Reading Experience
“Read to Our Own Heroes” Helps School Children Celebrate Local Heroes
Graphic Novels and Comic Book Resources
On ReadingRockets.org: FAQs from Real Parents and Teachers About Reading
Writing
Creating a Home Atmosphere that Supports Great Writing
Helping Your Teens and Tweens Edit Their Writing
Great Research and Reference Sources for Tweens and Teens
Linking Literacy to Every Day Tasks
Cooking with Cookbooks: Teaching Your Child Basic Cooking and Kitchen Safety
Literacy Survival Kit: Pre-Teens and Prescription Drug Labels
Growing a Spring Garden: Cultivating Plants and Your Child’s Literacy Skills
Summertime Fun
Summer Adventures Treasure Chest
Unplug on Your Summer Vacation:
Give Your Kids “Anti-Boredom” Travel Backpacks
Getting Your Teens and Tweens Reading this Summer!
Summer Travel Entertainment: Great Audiobooks for Kids
Suggested Reading for Kids and Families
American Heroes: Folklore Legends
American Heroes: Historic and Cultural Heroes
Home Run Reading: Baseball and Books for Kids
Discovering Fantasy Beyond Harry Potter
Gift Book Suggestions for Your Family
Great Reads Author and Illustrator Recommendations