Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Celebrate Read Across America with Family Engagement Strategies
As we celebrate Read Across America, it’s the perfect time to explore how family engagement can drive literacy success. We recently partnered with edWeb and one of our stellar education leaders, Dr. Kelly Moran, from the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve in Ohio to host an engaging edWebinar on family involvement and literacy. The session, Family Engagement to Support Reading Success: Evidence-Based Strategies at Work, attracted over 800 live attendees, with more than 1,000 registrants—highlighting the significance of this topic in education today.
Watch the webinar
If you’re an educator, literacy leader, or curriculum specialist looking for proven strategies to break down barriers to reading at home, this webinar is for you. Watch the recording to gain actionable insights from top experts, and get ready for our upcoming Family Engagement Kit, packed with tools you can start using tomorrow.
Why Family Engagement Matters for Reading Success
Every educator knows that what happens at home plays a huge role in a student’s reading success. But what if caregivers face obstacles that make supporting literacy at home difficult? The recent edWebinar, Family Engagement to Support Reading Success: Evidence-Based Strategies at Work, tackled these challenges head-on and offered real solutions for educators striving to bridge the gap between school and home.
A Highly Impactful and Engaging Session
This webinar was a tremendous success, drawing in over 800 live attendees and capturing the interest of more than 1,000 educators.
The overwhelming engagement highlighted the urgent need for effective family literacy strategies, making this session an invaluable resource for educators nationwide. Attendees walked away with actionable insights they could immediately apply in their schools and districts.
Common Barriers to Family Engagement in Literacy
Many students face significant obstacles when it comes to reading at home. Some tips to offset key challenges include:
- Caregiver Tips: Offer a variety of modes for reading interaction, including audiobooks, and language choices to support limited access to adult literacy skills. Identify spaces of time when children and caregivers are together, like during breakfast, in the car, etc., for book talks to support limited at-home time and help caregivers feel empowered in their role as collaborators in their child’s education.
- Student Tips: Create a space free of distractions (e.g. technology, socio-emotional stories) to build awareness of self-regulation and accessible independent texts. Distraction-free zones help students gain self-confidence in their reading ability.
This webinar provides proven, research-backed strategies to help educators and families overcome these challenges and create literacy-rich environments.
For more insights, check out Accelerating Reading Progress with High Effect Size – Part 5: Caregiver Support, and 7 Ways to Promote Independent Reading District-Wide
The Speakers: Expert Educators Leading the Way in Family Literacy
This powerful session was led by a team of literacy and education experts with decades of experience in family engagement and student success:
- Dr. Kelly Moran – Director of Instructional Programs at the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve. With expertise in curriculum development and professional development, she has led successful literacy initiatives in multiple districts. [headshot image in files & media]
- LaTrice Carter – Regional Outreach Director at Kids Read Now. As an early childhood education specialist, she focuses on equipping families with accessible, practical strategies to support reading at home. [headshot image in files & media]
- Dr. Kristen Walter – CEO of Kids Read Now. With a background in family literacy and bilingual education, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that every child has access to engaging reading materials and caregiver support. [headshot image in files & media]
Watch the Webinar & Get Ready for the Family Engagement Kit›
If your school or district is looking for proven strategies to overcome literacy barriers and strengthen family engagement, this webinar is your first step.
Watch today, and keep an eye out for the Family Engagement Kit—because empowering caregivers means empowering students to succeed.
The Schools’ Family Engagement Kit
Coming soon: The Schools’ Family Engagement Kit To Support Reading at Home! This resource-packed guide will give educators everything they need to support families in fostering strong literacy habits at home. It’s filled with tangible tools, expert advice, and ready-to-use materials that can be sent home with students immediately.
Want to be the first to access the Family Engagement Kit when it becomes available? Pre-register your interest, and we’ll notify you as soon as it’s ready!
Pre-register to get your copy
For additional strategies on encouraging independent reading and boosting literacy engagement, read The Power of Choice: Why Letting Kids Pick Their Own Books Boosts Literacy and Accelerating Reading Progress with High Effect Size – Part 4: Independent Reading Practice.
About edWeb, and Kids Read Now
edWeb is a dynamic, free professional learning network that connects educators, schools, and districts with high-quality resources and expert-led discussions. Their edWebinars provide an interactive, virtual environment where educators from diverse backgrounds can collaborate, learn, and exchange best practices. The accessibility of edWebinars allows participants to connect with education leaders they might never have had the opportunity to learn from otherwise—expanding their knowledge base and exposure to new strategies. Be sure to check out their Literacy Hero community, a free network for educators passionate about literacy.
Kids Read Now is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating reading gaps by delivering engaging, self-selected books directly to students’ homes. Their research-backed programs support schools and districts in fostering a love of reading in children while equipping families with the tools they need to build strong literacy habits.
By working together, these organizations are making a tangible impact on literacy and family engagement, ensuring that more students develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
Break barriers in your literacy progress
Discover the program that transforms reading habits and elevates district-wide literacy outcomes.
Challenge what’s possible. Explore with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Educators can use research-backed strategies like giving students book choice, building reading habits into daily routines, and creating a culture of literacy at home. This webinar on Family Engagement to Support Reading Success offer solutions.
Schools can provide easy-to-use conversation starters, bilingual resources, and book discussion prompts to help caregivers engage with reading in meaningful ways.
Educators can serve as a bridge between home and school, equipping caregivers with practical tools to help students develop strong reading habits beyond the classroom.
Distractions from technology, limited caregiver support, and a lack of confidence can impact home reading. This blog and webinar provide solutions to overcome these obstacles.
This webinar on Family Engagement to Support Reading Success offers free, expert-led training on how educators can create literacy-rich home environments.