How can parents and teachers collaborate to set reading goals for children?

1 Why set reading goals?

Reading goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives that help children improve their reading skills, motivation, and confidence. Reading goals can be based on different aspects of reading, such as fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, genre, or interest. Setting reading goals can help children focus on their strengths and areas of improvement, track their own progress, and enjoy reading more.

2 How to communicate with parents

Communication is key to establish a successful collaboration with parents on reading goals. You should communicate regularly and clearly with parents about the purpose, process, and outcomes of setting reading goals. You can use various channels, such as emails, newsletters, phone calls, or online platforms, to share information, feedback, and resources with parents. You should also invite parents to share their observations, questions, and concerns with you and respect their opinions and preferences.

3 How to involve parents in setting reading goals

Parents can play an important role in setting reading goals for their children, as they know their children's interests, needs, and challenges better than anyone else. You can involve parents in setting reading goals by asking them to help you assess their children's current reading level, identify their children's reading interests and preferences, and choose appropriate and engaging reading materials for their children. You can also ask parents to help you set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound reading goals for their children and review them periodically.

4 How to support parents in implementing reading goals

Once you and the parents have set reading goals for the children, you need to provide ongoing support and guidance to the parents on how to implement them at home. You can support parents by providing them with strategies and tips on how to create a positive and supportive reading environment, how to model and encourage good reading habits, how to scaffold and monitor their children's reading, and how to provide constructive and praise-based feedback. You can also share with parents some useful resources and tools, such as reading logs, checklists, charts, or apps, that can help them track and document their children's reading progress.

5 How to collaborate with parents on assessing reading goals

Assessing reading goals is an essential part of the collaboration process, as it helps you and the parents evaluate the children's reading growth and identify the next steps. You can collaborate with parents on assessing reading goals by using multiple sources of evidence, such as formal and informal assessments, observations, portfolios, or self-reports, to measure the children's reading performance and progress. You can also involve the children in the assessment process by asking them to reflect on their reading goals, achievements, and challenges and share their feedback with you and their parents.

6 How to celebrate reading goals with parents

Celebrating reading goals with parents is a great way to acknowledge and reward the children's reading efforts and achievements and to foster a positive and collaborative relationship with the parents. You can celebrate reading goals with parents by organizing events and activities, such as reading fairs, showcases, or awards, that highlight and showcase the children's reading accomplishments and growth. You can also send personalized notes, certificates, or badges to the children and their parents to congratulate them on their reading success and encourage them to continue reading.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?