Parent Resources

Overview

CDE's Literacy team aims to provide guidance for advancing students who may need extra help with their reading through various resources such as the Readwithme.today website. Readwithme.today is a great tool for parents and caregivers to access engaging resources, tips, and activities that can further help with your child's love of reading.

Parents are children’s first teachers. Parents play an important role in laying the foundation for reading and literacy skills. Simple, everyday routines are opportunities for developing your child’s pre-reading and reading skills. By talking, telling stories, and singing songs, parents are helping to develop oral language skills in their children.

Creating a reading routine is an excellent way to model the importance of reading as well as expose your child to new vocabulary and concepts and ideas all while enjoying stories and time together. Making books accessible for your child to explore on their own is another great way to encourage reading at home.

This page provides reading and literacy tips and recommendations for parents, storytelling resources in audio and video format, and information on how to access your local public library.

In addition to fostering a love of reading, parents are the foremost expert on their child and their best advocate. Resources on navigating potential reading difficulties are also provided. Additional information on how we learn to read can be found in the Science of Reading page.

Reading and Literacy Tips and Recommendations

The Science of Reading for Parents (9:37 video)
A short video that defines the science of reading and how the brain learns to read through scientifically based and evidence-based reading instruction.

Reading Tips for Parents (in Multiple Languages)
One-page parent tips offer easy ways for parents to help kids become successful readers. One-page documents are divided by age, however, many of the tips can be used with children at various ages and stages — we encourage you to choose the ones that work best for your child.

UFLI Parent Resource Hub
The UFLI Parent Resource Hub is a collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students. The resources are organized by birth to pre-K, primary grades (K-3), intermediate grades (4-6), and secondary grades (7-12).

Institute of Educational Sciences Regional Education Laboratory: Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home
Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home resources are family activities include easy-to-follow plans to help you support your child's foundational reading skills at home. Materials needed for each family activity, such as letter cards, are included. They begin with simpler activities and progress to more difficult ones.

Talking is Teaching
Talking is Teaching empowers parents and caregivers with fun and easy ways to improve their babies' learning. Resource includes using books, parent videos, text messaging, social media, and information from expert partners.

Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers
Help your child become a better reader by reading in your home language. Children who are read to in their native language (such as Spanish) will have an easier time learning to read in their second language (such as English). This article details the benefits of and research on reading to your child in your home language.

Enjoying Books and Stories Together

StoryBlocks
Storyblocks is a project of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, working in partnership with Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Services. It is a collection of 30-60 second videos designed to model to parents, caregivers, and library staff some songs, rhymes, and fingerplays appropriate for early childhood. Each video clip includes helpful early literacy tips to increase caregivers’ understanding of child development and pre-literacy needs. Videos available in multiple languages.

Storyline Online
Storyline Online streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Storyline Online is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers and educators worldwide. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.

Read Aloud with Dusty and Dott
Reading buddies, Dusty and Dott, share stories and activities through entertaining read alouds.

Books for Beginning Independent Reading
Is your child learning to read and you need suggestions for materials for independent reading? This page includes information and booklists for your child to practice their newly learned skills.

Colorado Public Libraries
Colorado Public Libraries have a wealth of free resources to share with parents and families. You can find books, storytimes, educational programs and activities, online resources and more. Find your local library here.

Colorado Talking Book Library
If you, or someone you know are not able to enjoy books or magazines because: you cannot see well enough to read conventional print; if a physical disability prevents you from handling the printed materials; or a reading disability causes you to be unable to read you may want to take advantage of the free services offered by the Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL).

Navigating Reading Difficulties

Colorado READ Act for Parents Webpage
This webpage provides general information about the Colorado READ Act and the importance of early literacy skills.

An Overview of the Colorado READ Act for Parents
This video presentation is designed to provide parents and families with a high-level overview of the Colorado READ Act as it pertains to daily implementation in schools. (31:25)

Target the Problem
Target the Problem with this tool. Information to help parents and classroom teachers understand the specific problems a child may be having with reading. You'll find practical suggestions on what you (and kids themselves) can do to help students overcome or deal with their reading difficulties.

Colorado Dyslexia Page
The Colorado Dyslexia Page includes a brief overview on dyslexia, links to the Colorado Department of Education Dyslexia Handbook, past Dyslexia Forum presentations, and information on dyslexia legislation in the state.

CDE’s Science of Reading Resources
The Science of Reading Resources page is a place to find information on the science of reading to ground yourself in this research before diving into specific instructional practices and activities. This page offers different modes for exploring the science of reading through podcasts, videos, books, book studies, research articles and ways to connect with the science of reading community.

Additional Resources

The Reading League Families and Caregivers Page
Families and caregivers play a crucial role in fostering language and literacy skills. They can also support schools as they adopt reading instruction that is aligned with the science of reading. This page provides primary considerations and resources for families and caregivers.

Early Literacy Parent Tool Kit
ExcelinEd’s education policy resource, Early Literacy Matters, equips state policymakers, education leaders and families with the tools needed to guide young readers toward lifelong success. This page provides resources to help families and caregivers support children in becoming skilled readers.

Reading Rockets Reading 101: A Guide for Parents
Reading 101: A Guide for Parents was developed in partnership with the National Education Association and Colorín Colorado. Discover what it takes to build important literacy skills, and how you can help your children grow as readers, writers, and thinkers!

Web Link Disclaimer

Because of their potential interest or usefulness to the education community or the general public, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) occasionally provides links from this site to external web sites. It attempts to monitor such links on a regular basis. However, the Department cannot be responsible for the content of any site external to its own.

Further, by linking to other sites, CDE is not endorsing any particular product, practice, service, provider or institution, nor does it necessarily endorse views expressed or facts presented on these sites.

In addition, neither CDE nor any of its employees makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information linked to from this site.

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