How can family members and caregivers support kids’ literacy development outside of school, beyond the classroom? In this introductory episode, Emily Butler Smith, Amanda Hartman and Natalie Louis share research, insights, and practical advice on supporting literacy development and connection with students of all ages. Bringing their experience as former classroom teachers and current staff developers, parents, and caregivers, they consider the everyday opportunities for joyful and meaningful literacy growth.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations:

• Five Practical Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home (Color - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uaRzRzGWZHayi_I-pxUInsZgkfO75Cxc/view?usp=sharing) and Five Practical Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home (Black and White - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QDapouOMh8v5vr1drNBK80FYYzZwC_Ec/view?usp=sharing)

• How to Raise an Adult Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare -Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims - https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-raise-an-adult-break-free-of-the-overparenting-trap-and-prepare-your-kid-for-success-julie-lythcott-haims/71cc7dab3393993e?ean=9781250093639&next=t&next=t

• Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain by Zaretta Hammond - https://www.corwin.com/books/cultural-responsv-teaching-brain-241754?srsltid=AfmBOoowTQP6aCdXfAecDxjKeGEyLvh64H9JQXZImdWODT8YeZo4dDyI

• Bud Finds Her Gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/bud-finds-her-gift

• Life After Whale by Lynn Brunelle - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743859/life-after-whale-by-lynn-brunelle-illustrated-by-jason-chin/

• Max in the House of Spies -The Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/639711/max-in-the-house-of-spies-by-adam-gidwitz/

• J vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kwame-alexander/j-vs-k/9780316582698/

• Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250328533/sistersinthewind/

• Rising from the Ashes by Paula Yoo - https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324030904

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy - https://advancingliteracy.tc.columbia.edu

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series, and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

Introducing Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom – a new podcast series designed for families, caregivers, and educators who want to support young readers and writers at home.

From early literacy to essay writing, AI tools to choosing great books, we're covering it all for PreK-12 students. Join us each month for a new episode where we'll explore practical strategies grounded in the latest research.

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.