Teachers all know that literacy is the foundation for all learning.

When kids can read and write well, they’re more likely to succeed in all areas of school and in life. That’s why it’s so important for us to work together with families to support their children’s literacy development.

One of the best ways to do this is to communicate assessment data results to families in a clear, concise, and actionable way. Assessment data can give us valuable information about students’ progress and areas for improvement. But if families don’t understand it, they can’t use it to help their children at home.

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Here are a few tips for communicating assessment data results to families:

• Use plain language.
  Avoid using jargon or technical terms that families may not understand.
• Be specific.
  Don’t just say that a student is “struggling” or “doing well.” Explain specific skills or areas of knowledge that the student needs to work on.
• Be positive.
  Focus on the student’s strengths and areas for growth. Avoid using negative language or labels.
• Provide suggestions.
  Let families know what they can do to help their children at home. This could include specific activities, strategies, or resources.

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When families understand their child’s assessment data results, they can become partners in their child’s education. They can work with you to develop strategies to support their child’s learning at home. This can lead to improved student achievement, increased parental engagement, and reduced stress and anxiety for both families and students.

So, next time you’re communicating assessment data results to families, take a moment to think about their needs and perspectives. Use plain language, be specific and positive, and provide suggestions. By doing so, you can build strong partnerships with families and help all students succeed.

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Now, let’s talk about some of the specific benefits of supporting families with literacy development and effectively communicating assessment data results:

• Improved student achievement:
  Research has shown that children whose parents are involved in their education tend to perform better academically. This is especially true for children from low-income families.
• Increased parental engagement:
  When parents and caregivers feel supported and informed about their child’s education, they are more likely to be involved in their child’s learning. This can lead to a number of benefits, such as improved attendance and behavior, and increased motivation for learning.
• Reduced stress and anxiety:
  When parents and caregivers understand their child’s assessment data and have a plan to support their child’s learning, they are less likely to feel stressed and anxious about their child’s education. This can create a more positive and supportive home environment for learning.

By supporting families with literacy development and effectively communicating assessment data results, you can play a vital role in helping all students succeed.

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Supporting Families with Literacy Resources

Here are some tips on how to best support families with resources to aid in literacy development:

a. Share resources with families. 

Supporting families in fostering literacy development is a vital aspect of a teacher’s role. There are many great resources available to help families support their child’s literacy development. Some of my favorites include:

• Reading Rockets: https://www.readingrockets.org/
• Starfall: https://www.starfall.com/
• Khan Academy Kids: https://www.khanacademy.org/kids/
• PBS Parents: https://www.pbs.org/parents

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b. Providing Reading Lists: 

Share age-appropriate reading lists with families, suggesting books that align with their child’s reading level and interests. This can help families make informed choices when selecting reading materials.

Here are some online resources where you can find age-appropriate reading lists:

• Goodreads:
  Goodreads is a social networking site for book lovers. It has a large database of books, including children’s books. You can find reading lists for children of all ages on Goodreads.
• Shelf Awareness:
  Shelf Awareness is a weekly newsletter from the American Booksellers Association. It features new releases and book reviews, as well as reading lists for children of all ages.
• BookRiot:
  BookRiot is a website that covers all things books. It has a section dedicated to children’s books, which features reading lists, author interviews, and more.
• The Children’s Book Review:
  The Children’s Book Review is a website that reviews children’s books. It also has a section dedicated to reading lists, which includes lists for children of all ages and interests.
• ReadBrightly:
  ReadBrightly is a website that provides resources to help parents and caregivers raise readers. It has a section dedicated to reading lists, which includes lists for children of all ages and interests.
• You can also find a number of age-appropriate reading lists on publisher websites and bookstore websites. For example, Scholastic has a number of reading lists for children of all ages, and Barnes & Noble has a section dedicated to children’s books that includes reading lists.

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c. Give families suggestions for activities 

Give families suggestions for activities they can do at home. Here are a few ideas:

• Read to your child every day.
  This is the most important thing you can do to support your child’s literacy growth.
• Talk about the books you read together.
  Ask your child questions about the story, the characters, and the pictures.
• Play word games.
  Word games are a fun way to help children learn about letters, words, and sounds.
• Provide your child with a variety of reading materials.
  This could include books, magazines, newspapers, and even cereal boxes.
• Make reading a fun and enjoyable experience.
  Don’t force your child to read if they’re not in the mood. Instead, find ways to make reading fun, such as reading in a cozy spot or reading together as a family.

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d. Be mindful of cultural differences. 

• Some families may have different cultural traditions around reading. 

• For example, in some cultures, it is more common for children to read silently, while in other cultures, it is more common for children to read aloud. 

• Be respectful of these differences and encourage families to use the reading strategies that work best for their child.

e. Be patient and supportive. 

Learning to read takes time and practice. Be patient with your child and offer them support along the way.

f. Celebrate your child’s successes. 

When your child reaches a reading milestone, be sure to celebrate their success. This will help them to stay motivated and continue learning.

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How to Best Communicate Assessment Data Results to Students and Families

Here are some tips on how to best communicate assessment data results to students and families:

• Use clear and concise language.
  Avoid using jargon or technical terms that students and families may not understand.

• Focus on the student’s strengths.
  Start by sharing the student’s strengths and areas of progress. This will help to build the student’s confidence and create a positive tone for the conversation.

• Be specific and actionable. 
  When sharing areas where the student can improve, be specific and actionable. Provide students and families with concrete suggestions for how they can support the student’s learning.

• Be collaborative.
  Work with students and families to develop a plan for how to address the student’s areas for improvement. This plan should be tailored to the student’s individual needs and learning style.

• Be positive and supportive. 
  Remember that the goal of communicating assessment data results is to help students succeed. Be positive and supportive throughout the conversation, and let students and families know that you are there to help them reach their goals.

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Sample Communication:

Here is an example of how you might communicate assessment data results to a student and their family:

“Hi everyone,  I’m so glad you could join me today to discuss [student’s name]’s assessment results. Overall, [student’s name] is doing a great job in reading. They are able to read fluently and accurately, and they have a good understanding of what they read. They are also able to make inferences and draw conclusions about the text. One area where [student’s name] could improve is in their vocabulary knowledge. Sometimes they struggle to understand the meaning of more challenging vocabulary words. To help [student’s name]  improve their vocabulary, I suggest that you talk to them about the meaning of new words when you are reading together. You can also provide them with a dictionary or other resources to help them learn the meaning of new words. I am confident that [student’s name] will continue to make progress in reading with your support. I am here to help in any way that I can.“

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Here are some infographics you might find useful:
InfoGraph 💐: Classroom Behavior Strategies (M4U2A1)
InfoGraph 💐: Everyone Learns Differently (M5U4A2)
InfoGraph 💐: Reading Activities Resource for Families (M5U4A2)
InfoGraph 💐: Digital Citizen Poster (M2U1A3)

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