Family Literacy Resources

Reading 101: A Guide for Families from Reading Rockets

This website provides information on how kids learn to read, the science of reading, and what to expect as PreK-2nd grade children grow in their reading  abilities. The resource is aimed directly at parents so that they can support their child’s reading journey.

Reading Tips for Families in Multiple Languages

Reading Rockets offers simple reading tips in multiple languages.

Learn the ABCs of Active Reading

Learn the difference between reading to your child and reading with your child.

Practice Reading with Fluency

Learn how to Echo Read and Choral Read with your child to improve fluency. 

Minnesota's English Language Arts Standards: A Family and Caregiver Guide to Supporting Your Child's Learning. This resource is designed to support parent and caregiver understanding of the state's revised ELA standards, which are required to be taught in all grades starting in 2025-2026 school year.

• Minnesota’s English Language Arts Standards: A Family and Caregiver Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Learning (English)

• Minnesota’s English Language Arts Standards: A Family and Caregiver Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Learning (Hmong)
• Minnesota’s English Language Arts Standards: A Family and Caregiver Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Learning (Somali)
• Minnesota’s English Language Arts Standards: A Family and Caregiver Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Learning (Spanish)

• Phonemic awareness is about sounds, not letters! It is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.
   
• Phonics is a method of teaching children how to read by connecting sounds (phonemes) with letters or groups of letters (graphemes).
   
• Vocabulary Development is the process of learning new words and their meanings. It plays a key role in reading because the more words children know, the easier it is for them to understand what they read.
   
• Reading fluency is the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression. It’s like reading the way we talk—at a good pace and with understanding.
   
• Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and make sense of what is being read

• Label Making:  Give your child slips of paper and let them make labels for items around your home. Make labels for things in their room, the kitchen, bathroom etc. This game can be used to support phonics!
   
• Sort! Lay various items out before your child(ren). Think of ways to sort them; smallest to biggest, by color, my texture etc.. This game supports vocabulary!
   
• Calm and connect: Stack a bunch of new library books on the floor. Pile pillows and blankets on the floor and have a pajama/reading party. Take turns reading aloud. Read together in a blanket fort. These support fluency. 
• Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt with household items for your child. Some examples would be to  find something that starts with the letter k, find something that can hold water, or something that has 3 syllables. Get creative!

Games for on the go!

• Road signs: Look for specific signs on the road - Stop signs, Speed limit 45, food advertisement, a specific gas station, grocery story. To add extra fun, have them spell what they see. 
   
• I Spy: Play I Spy using color words, sight words, beginning sounds. Look on billboards,food products at the store or magazines at the check out
   
• Nature walks: Discuss, ask questions, share wonders. You can look for pine cones, rocks, cloud shapes, animal tracks and leaves.

If you have concerns about your child's reading, here are some ways you can get support:

• Meet with your child's teacher and share your concerns 
• If your child is between ages 3-5, schedule an Early Childhood Screening through your school district 
• Consider talking to your school nurse/pediatrician 
• Request vision/hearing screening 
• Share any other developmental concerns