NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY MONTH

Promoting literacy comes naturally to us teachers in the classroom and the education system, but literacy in the home, family literacy, is just as important. The home, with parents as our children’s first teachers, is the first place children are exposed to reading and writing. It is where they first learn to love books and do “bookish things,” like acting out plays, stories, movies or “reading” to their stuffed animals or playing “school” long before they’re old enough to attend. Because of this, there are ways you can promote family literacy at home.

1. Set aside some time every day to read.
2. Keep books around the house.
3. Make regular visits to the library.
4. Read together the book version of your child’s favorite movie.
5. Organize a children’s book club with their friends in the neighborhood.

(www.kumor.com)

More things you can do to celebrate this month:

1. Make bookmarks (and maybe give them as Thanksgiving presents. Even if there is to be no family gathering this year, they mail easily.
2. Write a story where each family member writes a paragraph, section, or chapter about a family event or vacation. (www.gettingsmart.com)
3. Build together and maintain a Little Free Library.
4. Record children’s books for local hospitals. Have different family members read different parts.
5. Write a family cookbook and give as Christmas gifts. I use a loose leaf notebook.

6. Use memes to print flyers to advertise favorite books and hand out or mail to friends.

I am sure you and your family can think of many other “bookish” activities. The emphasis this month, however, is carrying out these literacy activities AS A FAMILY!

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