Collaborating with families

Collaborating with families to develop literacy skills in children is paramount to success in the classroom. Teachers need to find ways to include the family in building literacy skills so that children can continue learning outside the classroom.

Imagine that you are teaching at a culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse primary school (K-3). Your principal has asked you to collaborate with a group of colleagues to plan a literacy night for families who have children at the school.

Create a 1000 word plan for the evening which details the schedule from start to finish and demonstrates thoughtful consideration with regard to culture, environment, social system, and ecology. Include the following:

1. A schedule of events with the locations, times, and detailed descriptions of what will take place and be presented. Include accommodations for caregivers and children who may have disabilities.
2. A description of how the literacy night will be communicated to families, paying special attention to meeting diverse family needs.
3. Roles and expectations for each teacher that evening.
4. An overview of school and classroom services that promote literacy for students with and without exceptionalities.