During this session, presented in partnership with the National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL), families explored how different types of books and texts support children’s literacy development. Grounded in reading science and current research, the presentation highlighted the importance of comprehension, vocabulary development, fluency, and knowledge-building through a variety of reading experiences. Families learned about patterned and predictable texts, decodable readers, authentic literature, graphic novels, and nonfiction texts, as well as how each type of text supports different stages of reading development.
The session also provided practical strategies families could use at home to support literacy growth, including reading aloud, asking engaging comprehension questions, modeling fluent reading, and encouraging children to explore books that reflect both their own experiences and the broader world around them. Presenters emphasized the importance of fostering a lifelong love of reading by giving children access to diverse, meaningful, and enjoyable reading experiences both at school and at home.