How Leaders at Morris Jeff Community School engage families to support early literacy

School leaders at Morris Jeff Community School recognized an opportunity to leverage innovative technology to engage families to support early literacy development. ​

Recognizing an opportunity to meet families where they are

School closures in 2020 prompted a lot of creative thinking around classroom instruction and extending learning outside of the classroom. Many families found themselves playing a more active role in their child’s learning. Leaders at Morris Jeff Community School were determined to meet families where they were (at home!) to equip them with learning-focused tips and activities that families could use to engage with their child around learning. Fast forward to 2024, teachers and families at Morris Jeff Community School continue to partner to support early literacy. ​

So, what family engagement solution did they find?

Lisa Sirgo, Elementary Principal at Morris Jeff Community School, attended a webinar where she learned about Family Engagement Lab’s signature tool FASTalk. A few things stood out;

• Families received regular communication (2-3x per week) via SMS text message in their home language
• FASTalk messages include learning focused tips and activities that are actionable. Equipping families with what they need to support their child’s literacy development
• Playlists can be customized to align with the curriculum or grade-level standards

Explore success story

After four years of partnership, Lisa has shared that FASTalk is a “Great way to get families involved in literacy and share what is developmentally appropriate. It takes something off of teachers' plates to engage with families, especially the ones that are hungry for activities to support students at home.”

FASTalk at a Glance

Family Engagement Lab believes that essential learning happens at the intersection of high-quality instruction and opportunities for creating real world connections. Families are a key, but often under leveraged, stakeholder in helping children make meaning of the concepts they are learning in the classroom. When schools effectively equip families to support, the results are astonishing. 

FASTalk is an evidence-based tool that was designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and opportunities for reinforcement that extend beyond the school walls. FASTalk facilitates seamless and consistent learning-focused communication between schools and families. Our messages translate high-quality instructional materials into insights and activities that families can use to support their child’s learning outside of the classroom.

Wondering how you can make the most of your family engagement strategy? 

​Connect with us to learn more. ​