Combining STAR in School with STAR@Home
How to support in home reading activities:
1
Remind caregivers to read a print-rich book with their child. We have provided an extensive list of books that target different print concepts.
2
Caregivers should read the book 2 or more times per week, using the STAR card to remind them to reference print while reading
3
Provide a journal or reading log for book readings to track each child’s progress. This will allow caregivers to let teachers know how book readings are going at home.
When teachers encourage caregivers to use the STAR Read-Aloud Practices at home while the teachers implement it in the classroom, teachers are able to create a relationship based on a mutual activity. This creates a unique platform that encourages children’s print knowledge development and supports a caregiver-teacher relationship at the same time. Caregivers and teachers can discuss children’s successes and challenges with concepts and monitor their progress throughout the year. This not only increases caregiver investment in children’s education but also strengthens the caregiver-teacher connection.
Teachers can communicate regularly with families regarding STAR Read-Aloud Practices by sending home weekly reading logs that discuss which book was read and which targets were hit during the week. Ask questions on the reading log about how reading is going at home. This encourages a dialogue between caregivers and schools to support book readings both in the classroom and at home.
Lastly, teachers can evaluate how the involvement of caregivers in the STAR Read-Aloud Practices increased caregiver engagement in the school and strengthened the caregiver-teacher relationship though a survey evaluation. Teachers can ask caregivers how they felt about using the STAR Read-Aloud Practices at home and have them rate how that affected their school involvement. Teachers can reflect on how and to what degree the STAR Read-Aloud Practices improved their relationships with caregivers.