Using LitKit Materials

What are LitKits for? Help you provide QUICK and CONSISTENT messages to families about reading at home Can be used to share flyers for upcoming workshops

Responsibility for Learning Outcomes Home-School Relationships Why use the materials? Three categories of parent engagement Parenting Parent-child relationships Participation in child-centered activities Responsibility for Learning Outcomes Reading in the Home Parent-child conversations Home-School Relationships Communication Participation Child Outcomes Social competence Cognitive development Communication skills Literacy development Vocabulary growth Expressive language Comprehension skills Positive engagement with peers, adults, and learning Using the LitKit cards means that an implementer can simultaneously be activating all three areas: supporting parent and child development at home, encouraging reading and enriching conversation, and building bridges between the elements of the child’s environment. We aim to make these communications both quick and impactful by offering the LitKit boards and cards to facilitate your conversations with parents. Weiss, H., Caspe, M. & Lopez, M.E. (2006). Family involvement in early childhood education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Family Research Project.

When to share literacy info with parents? Pickup Dismissal Red Bag distribution time Parent-teacher conference Circle time- pick a strategy from the LitKit cards you’re currently displaying, and model during a group Storytime Home visits Case management visits

Introducing the Materials LitKit boards, with LitKit cards tucked in to create content LitKit cards, Loose, to be used with board above, or hole-punched and distributed on rings

How to use LitKits at your program Schools Child care centers FCC programs EI groups Playgroups Adult education centers Home visitors

Schools, child care centers, FCC programs Hang the LitKit board near your collection area for the Red Bags. When parents are in the classroom/center, use the LitKit cards currently in the board to generate a quick conversation around the family’s at-home reading routines. If there are times such as pickup/dismissal when you are out of the classroom but have good opportunities for parent conversations, try to take the board with you! LitKit Card Bonus: When you update the cards in your LitKit board, make a copy and send home to families to keep them updated. ************************************************************************************ Bulletin Boards: Sites of any type are also welcome to reproduce LitKit boards and cards to display in site-wide bulletin boards!

EI groups, playgroups, adult ed centers Keep the LitKit board with your Red Bag tracking chart. When exchanging the Red Bags, have a short conversation about their reading practices. If possible, model dialogic reading strategies during circle time or Storytimes. LitKit Cards: Send home copies of the cards with the strategies you’ve modeled, so that parents can benefit from repeated practice. Parents should be encouraged to write their own questions on cards at home, and add them to the ring. ************************************************************************************ Bulletin Boards: Sites of any type are also welcome to reproduce LitKit boards and cards to display in site-wide bulletin boards!

Home visiting programs Use the LitKit board to double as a folder where you track your Red Bag rotations and identify literacy check-ins with each family. Change the cards on a monthly basis and give a LitKit card to parents each time you exchange the bag. They can keep their key ring of collected questions attached to the handle of the Red Bag, and removing the key ring to place it on the new Red Bag can be a part of the rotation routine. Parents should be encouraged to write their own questions on cards at home, and add them to the ring. ************************************************************************************ Bulletin Boards: Sites of any type are also welcome to reproduce LitKit boards and cards to display in site-wide bulletin boards!

Preparing Your Materials Determine the number of LitKit boards needed for your site. Create them using the LitKit board instructions document. Print a master copy of each card set, keep in binder for reproductions: 11 x 4 Top Cards Seasonal Small Cards Baby Small Cards Toddler Small Cards Infant Small Cards Make a copy of the relevant LitKit cards for each classroom/site/FCC/home visitor/playgroup/etc. Let teachers/FCCs/home visitors/coordinator/etc know where master copy of card sets are located  implementers are encouraged to make copies of the cards to distribute to families as appropriate. Home visitors and EI programs are strongly encouraged to share LitKit cards as a best practice Laminate cards or utilize reinforcement labels for the holes punched in the cards to ensure maximum longevity.

LitKit contents 11 x 4 cards, for top pocket of LitKit boards Topics: Program intro, CROWD skills, PEER skills, Summer reading Rotate cards once per month during school year (at year-round sites, review one CROWD or PEER strategy per week in the summer) *************************************************************************************** 5.5 x 4.25 cards, for bottom pocket of LitKit boards *or for Key Rings as a LitKit Card collectible set* Topics of seasonal set: one card per month in English and Spanish recommending a book and extension activity that can be done at home Topics by age group: Baby, Toddler, or Preschool sets each include 16 bilingual cards with age-appropriate reading strategies and questions for themes like the weather, colors, and animals Change at least once per month, or more frequently if using both card sets

We’d love your feedback! Do LitKits help you engage families in literacy practices? Do you have any ideas to suggest?