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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Literacy Bags

I sent out a family survey the last day of school asking parents and family members to review the year. They had the opportunity to share their favorite things about the year and give suggestions on how to improve our program. I've been getting a few surveys back, and I'm looking forward to figuring out ways to address their concerns.

One parent asked for more parent involvement, particularly in the curriculum area. I sent out a fairly-detailed weekly newsletter, but I understand her desire to have a better understanding of how she could be helping her daughter. I've been thinking about this concern all day, and I've come up with a number of ways to include more. One way, I want to help parents help their children is by sending home literacy bags.

I'm not sure where I originally discovered literacy bags, but I know Reading Rockets has a ton of information about them; they have materials for bags on their site as well. Basically, literacy bags are bags of themed books and activities that children can take home and do with their families. Each literacy bag will contain:
  • at least three books centered around the same theme
  • a stuffed toy to match the theme
  • a journal
  • a list of activities the families can do together
  • tips to help families read to the children.
I have a schedule worked out, and I hope to have six different literacy bags. Children will have the chance to take one home about once every month and a half. My hope with the literacy bags is to encourage families to read together. When parents and families share time to read, it helps young children find the fun in reading and realize its value.

Here is an example of what I hope my Amazing Apples Literacy Bag will look like:
I'm super excited about this!

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