In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, hosts Emily Smith and Kristin Smith — staff developers at Advancing Literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University — explore how families and caregivers can nurture a lifelong love of fiction reading in children of all ages. Drawing on research by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop (windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors), brain science, and vocabulary development studies, they discuss how fiction builds empathy, expands language, and helps kids navigate real-life challenges. The episode also offers practical tips for making fiction reading a joyful part of everyday life.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations:

• The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole González
• El Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• The Bletchley Riddle by Steve Sheinkin
• Chinese Menu by Grace Lin
• Supporting Your Beginning Reader Beyond the Classroom - color and black and white

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy.

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

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What types of books should beginning readers spend time reading? In this episode of Advancing Literacy Beyond the Classroom, we dive into decodable books — what they are, why they matter for beginning readers, and the research behind them. We'll break down the use of decodable books in plain language, share what makes a decodable book a good one, and give you practical tips for reading alongside your young learner. If your child is a beginning reader or if you just want to learn more and feel more confident with the support you provide, this one's for you.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations:

• Supporting Your Beginning Reader Beyond the Classroom - color and black and white
• The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin
• Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea by John Schu
• Plátanos are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris
• Little Rebels by Yuyi Morales
• Why Do Elephants Have Big Ears? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
• How to Bird by Rasha Hamid

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy.

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

How can family members and caregivers support kids’ literacy development outside of school, beyond the classroom? In this introductory episode, Emily Butler Smith, Amanda Hartman and Natalie Louis share research, insights, and practical advice on supporting literacy development and connection with students of all ages. Bringing their experience as former classroom teachers and current staff developers, parents, and caregivers, they consider the everyday opportunities for joyful and meaningful literacy growth.

Episode Resources and Book Recommendations:

• Five Practical Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home (Color - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uaRzRzGWZHayi_I-pxUInsZgkfO75Cxc/view?usp=sharing) and Five Practical Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home (Black and White - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QDapouOMh8v5vr1drNBK80FYYzZwC_Ec/view?usp=sharing)

• How to Raise an Adult Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare -Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims - https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-raise-an-adult-break-free-of-the-overparenting-trap-and-prepare-your-kid-for-success-julie-lythcott-haims/71cc7dab3393993e?ean=9781250093639&next=t&next=t

• Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain by Zaretta Hammond - https://www.corwin.com/books/cultural-responsv-teaching-brain-241754?srsltid=AfmBOoowTQP6aCdXfAecDxjKeGEyLvh64H9JQXZImdWODT8YeZo4dDyI

• Bud Finds Her Gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/bud-finds-her-gift

• Life After Whale by Lynn Brunelle - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743859/life-after-whale-by-lynn-brunelle-illustrated-by-jason-chin/

• Max in the House of Spies -The Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/639711/max-in-the-house-of-spies-by-adam-gidwitz/

• J vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kwame-alexander/j-vs-k/9780316582698/

• Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250328533/sistersinthewind/

• Rising from the Ashes by Paula Yoo - https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324030904

Learn more about Teachers College Advancing Literacy - https://advancingliteracy.tc.columbia.edu

If you’d like more tips on supporting at-home literacy, be sure to join and share our FREE Online Family and Caregiver Workshop Series, and stay tuned for more podcasts episodes.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.