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How to Prepare for a Successful School Year

1. Know what strong literacy instruction looks like.
   Evidence-based literacy practices give children the explicit, systematic instruction they need to build strong reading and writing skills. Our latest free course, Evidence-Based Literacy Practices (Pre-K–3), explains what these practices are, why they matter, and what they can look like in a real classroom.
   
2. Help a new teacher get to know your child.
   A Student Language and Literacy Profile is a simple document that introduces your child to new teachers and school staff by sharing their strengths, interests, challenges, successful supports, and goals. Take time to create one before the school year begins so educators can understand and support your child from the start. See what to include and how to create one.
   
3. Turn everyday moments into learning moments.
   Literacy development doesn’t stop when the school day ends. Developed with the Idaho State Department of Education, our Mindful Minutes series shows families how to build language and literacy skills through everyday conversations, play, shared reading, and daily routines.
   
4. Prepare for parent-teacher conferences.
   With parent-teacher conferences coming up, now is a good time to think about your child’s strengths, challenges, and the support they may need this school year. Use our guide on how to build Self-Advocacy Skills for Students and Families to prepare questions, communicate clearly with educators, and advocate for your child's literacy needs.
   
5. Know what to expect from fall reading screening, and why it's important.
   Many schools screen students’ reading skills at the beginning of the school year. These brief assessments help teachers identify children who may need additional instruction or support. Learn what reading screening measures are, how schools use the results, and what questions to ask about your child’s progress.

How to combat the stigma of dyslexia? Hear from John Gabrieli, neuroscientist at MIT, and associate member of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, on how imaging and behavioral tests can help explain how the human brain powers learning, thinking, and feeling.

Strong instructional leadership is essential for cultivating fair learning environments and improving educational outcomes for all students. Here are 4 Reasons Why Strong Literacy Leadership Matters.

We're still buzzing from the 26th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and connected with us. If you couldn't make it in person, check out videos of the sessions that were livestreamed.

The research reported here is funded by a grant to the National Center on Improving Literacy from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, in partnership with the Office of Special Education Programs (Award #: H283D210004). The opinions or policies expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of OESE, OSEP, or the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal government. Copyright © 2026 National Center on Improving Literacy.