In just 50 minutes, this focused session will help educators begin designing a realistic, research-informed plan for how they’ll engage families in literacy throughout the school year. Rooted in best practices for equitable family engagement and effective communication, the session highlights how consistent, purposeful messaging can strengthen home-school connections and support student literacy outcomes. Participants will explore quick examples of high-impact literacy communications, such as short texts, monthly tips, and goal-aligned reading prompts, that make literacy visible and actionable for families. We’ll also review key research findings that show how strategic family communication boosts motivation, reading habits, and learning outcomes. During the session, educators will complete a guided planning activity where they identify 3-4 key literacy goals for the year, map out touchpoints for family communication, and choose the formats and tools that best fit their classroom context. Templates and sample messages will be provided to spark ideas and ease planning. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a starter literacy communication plan that they can build on, and the confidence to keep families informed, engaged, and empowered all year long. Learning Outcomes: • Identify simple, research-based strategies for communicating literacy goals to families. • Draft a mini yearlong communication plan aligned with classroom literacy priorities. • Learn how to use family engagement to reinforce literacy skills beyond the classroom.
