Families Read Together

Families Read Together workshops are open to adult learners who are caregivers to children ages 0-17. Those who take part will learn how to help children with literacy skills. Participants build home libraries by receiving free books after each workshop. Talk to the literacy coordinator at your nearest literacy center for more information.

Read

Reading is all around you! Where do you see words and letters?

Try this: When you are walking through your neighborhood, point out signs with print. Identify letters and words together.

Write

When you read a book, trace the letters with your finger. After sharing books, offer pencils, crayons, markers, and paper for scribbling and drawing…these scribbles are pre-writing skills!

Try this: Listen to a story together, then draw pictures to show what happens next. 

Talk

Though it may seem backwards, picture books without text (or “wordless picture books”) are a great way to encourage talking! Talk through the stories together, in whatever language is most comfortable to you. Talk about the details you notice and ask a lot of questions. Pause and wait for your child to answer.

Try this: Provide opportunities for the whole family to talk together. At the dinner table, or just before bed, play “Three Things,” where everyone shares their favorite three things about the day.

Sing

Singing is a great way to develop language! When we sing, we slow down our speech so that it is easier to hear the words.

Try this: When you sing, clap on each syllable. This helps identify each part of the word.

Play

Play is a great way to build vocabulary! Pretend to cook, go to the grocery store, or visit the doctor. Narrate what you are doing. This is also a great way to prepare children for new experiences.

Try this: Pretend to make your child’s favorite dish. You don’t have to buy play food or any other special toys. You can use paper or other household items. Take turns telling each other what you are doing (“I’m stirring the soup,” “I’m chopping the carrot”).