Building the Why for Family Literacy

An overview of why family engagement in literacy is essential to enhance students’ literacy experience and achievement.

Program Overview

When families of all backgrounds are engaged in their children’s learning, their children will achieve at higher levels, stay in school longer, and pursue higher education. This course highlights the reasons why family engagement in literacy is essential as you initiate thinking around ways to amplify family and school connections to ultimately enhance students’ literacy experience and achievement.

Register Now

Duration

Approximately 15 hours

Up to 6 months to complete coursework

Estimated Tuition

0

Tuition of this course is funded by a grant

Ways to Learn

Online

Credit

1 PDU

Graduate Level Professional Development Credit

Key Features

Online and self-paced   |   Dedicated mentor    |    Interactive assignments

Real-world case studies   |   Earn graduate level professional development credits

Upon successful mastery of this course, you will be able to: 

  • Explain ways to build trusting relationships between educators and families. 
  • Examine the effect that family engagement has on academic achievement and student engagement.
  • Analyze the research around the correlation between books in the home and higher achievement.
  • Propose ways to build parent confidence as an asset to a child’s reading development.
  • Analyze how a child’s social-emotional needs and self-esteem are enhanced through parent-teacher connection.
     

Course Topics:

  • Communication Builds Relationships
  • Barriers and How to Address Them
  • Teachers and Parents Share Responsibility
  • Connect With Parents to Support and Improve Academic Outcomes
  • The Power of a Home Library
  • Literacy and the Brain in Early Years
  • Education and Lifetime Earnings
  • Involve Parents in Literacy Learning
  • Parents Help With Reading
  • Teacher-Parent Partnerships in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
This course is part of the 4-course "Parents as Partners in Literacy" program. Taking courses in this recommended order will help you build a strong foundation and progress through the program with success.

  1. Building the Why for Family Literacy
  2. Methods for Engaging Families in Literacy Activities
  3. Strategies and Resources to Support Reading Development
  4. Data to Inform Literacy Development
Who Should Enroll?
PreK-12 teachers, Teacher candidates, School administrators, Para-educators   

Earn your credit in 3 simple steps

Step 1
Register online at no cost.

Step 2
Complete the course.

Step 3
Receive credits and obtain an official transcript.


Resources

Syllabus

Refund Policy

View All PD Courses

What are Graduate-level Professional Development Credits?

Graduate-level professional development credits are not part of a degree program but instead are primarily used for professional advancement such as salary increment steps and recertification. Students should seek approval from appropriate district officials before enrolling in these courses.

Related Information

Further your education with a few questions

  • About You
Student Type
Please enter your zip code to proceed.
Please enter a valid zip code to proceed.
Please select a degree type
Please select your area of interest
Please select a program type
Please enter your name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email to proceed
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter your phone number to proceed.
Please enter a valid phone number.

About UMass Global

Earn your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or certificate at UMass Global, a regionally accredited university.

We value your privacy

By submitting this form, I agree that UMass Global and/or Kaplan North America, LLC may contact me about educational services by voice, pre-recorded message and/or text message using automated technology, at the phone number provided, including wireless numbers. I understand that my consent is not required to attend University of Massachusetts Global. Privacy Policy