San Diego schools urge families to read together for 15 minutes
The district launched a bilingual activity guide offering nine specific ways for households to practice literacy skills during National Family Literacy Month.
By Jessica Abebe ·
San Diego Unified School District released a new activity guide this week.
The district is asking families to use November, National Family Literacy Month, to practice reading and writing at home. The guide provides bilingual instructions for nine specific activities. It aims to help children strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and language skills.
The primary recommendation is to read together for 15 minutes a day. District officials state that this short daily session builds memory, attention span, and background knowledge. They also suggest creating a family journal where every member writes a thought or poem each day. Another option is to start a family blog where members post about their day.
The guide lists practical ways to engage children with words. Families are encouraged to visit their local public library and obtain cards for everyone. The district suggests playing word games like "I Spy" and discussing new words during story time. It also proposes creating lists for grocery runs, weekend projects, or recipe steps to practice writing in a real-world context.
For a more creative approach, the guide recommends making a picture book using family photographs. Parents can write captions to tell the story of a favorite shared experience. The district also suggests arranging a time where each family member tells a personal story or retells a favorite book.
The district provided this resource to support family participation in literacy opportunities. The guide is available in both English and Spanish to accommodate bilingual households. The district invited parents to share feedback on how they can best support family literacy participation.
