Family Literacy
Family literacy programs empower parents and caregivers to become their children's first teachers as they explore the world of reading and learning together. By engaging in shared literacy activities, families can strengthen their bonds, boost children's academic success, and instill a lifelong passion for reading, ultimately leading to greater opportunities and brighter futures for all family members.
Adult Education
Adult Education
Build reading, writing, math, and problem-solving skills aligned with Career and College Readiness Standards.
Parent/Caregiver Education
Parent/Caregiver Education
Support children’s learning and relationships through practical lessons for engaged, confident parenting.
Interactive Literacy Activities
Interactive Literacy Activities
Hands-on family activities that strengthen adult and child literacy while deepening family connections.
Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education
Standards-aligned lessons for young children that build foundational skills in literacy and learning.
Designed for family literacy practitioners, educators, and families, these comprehensive book-centered lesson plans foster joyful learning experiences and support the development of lifelong literacy skills for learners of all ages.
Each includes four interconnected components:
- An adult education lesson
- A parent/caregiver-focused lesson
- An interactive learning activity (ILA)
- An early childhood lesson plan
The lessons are aligned with the Career and College Readiness Standards (CCRS), the 2024 Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education (ECE) Standards, and behavioral goals outlined in the Adult-Child Interactive Reading Inventory (ACIRI).
To support implementation, each plan is paired with a curated booklist that highlights high-quality, age-appropriate titles. These lists also offer alternative options when a featured book is unavailable, saving time and ensuring flexibility for both families and practitioners. The glossary serves as a valuable resource for users, providing explanations of important terms related to family literacy.
The Family Literacy Activities are dedicated to our ultimate goal of ensuring that every Pennsylvanian becomes a proficient reader. These resources are grounded in research on emergent literacy and are specifically designed for parents, caregivers, and educators working with young children. The original activities were developed in 2004 under the guidance of Sara Willoughby-Herb, an early childhood educator and expert in emergent literacy, and were co-sponsored by The Goodling Institute. In 2023, the lessons were revised with input from Sara, along with the assistance of Bednar Intern Kristine Howes and literacy consultant Lori McMonigal. Illustrations were created by J. Harlan Ritchey, Krista Wallden, Madigan King, Kristine Howes, and Madeline Eiser. For any inquiries, please contact Erica King, elk91@psu.edu.
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program aims to boost the participation of non-profit organizations or programs in literacy and reading advocacy by acknowledging their accomplishments and fostering partnerships with similar organizations. The program has granted over $3 million in rewards to over 150 establishments in 38 countries since 2013. To read more about the awards, see the Library of Congress website.