Dear Parents,

Spring has sprung, and many of us have enjoyed a much-needed break from the everyday routine of the school year. With summer just around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on where our children are in terms of literacy, and more importantly, what we can continue to do to support them.

Over the past few months, Freedom in Education has placed a strong focus on literacy. We’ve gone back to the beginning, looking at how reading is taught, how it has changed over time, and equipping parents with a clear, practical understanding of some of the practices used in our schools. But if there’s one thing I hope has stood out, it’s this: parents are our children’s first and most important teachers.

Over spring break, my family took a quick road trip to visit family in Oklahoma. Like many families, we packed snacks, bags, and everything in between but what stood out to me most was how easy it would have been to fill that time with screens. Instead, we found ourselves having conversations about the world around us. 

Some of the best learning doesn’t always come from a workbook or a lesson, it comes from simple, sometimes funny or imaginative, conversation.

We talked about the landscape as it changed, the towns we passed through, and the trucks we saw moving goods across the country. We asked questions, made up stories about the house in the middle of nowhere, and laughed a lot. And somewhere along the way, we started playing the license plate game, calling out states, talking about where they were, what we knew about them, and how far they were from home. What seems like a simple game quickly turns into geography, history, and vocabulary all in one.

Children build knowledge even when they don’t realize they are just by simple conversation in the car.

The truth is, reading comprehension isn’t just about recognizing words on a page. It’s about understanding them. Understanding grows when children have knowledge to pull from stored by real experiences, seemingly simple conversations, and exposure to the world around them.

This summer, you don’t need a complicated plan to support your child’s literacy. You simply need to be intentional with the moments you already have. Even if you are not taking a trip this summer, think about the time you have and be intentional with it. Cooking dinner, a trip to the grocery store, and even a run to an appointment can all be opportunities to have conversations about the world around you. 

During road trips or even short drives, you might:

• Play the license plate game and talk about the states you see
• Ask your child questions about what they notice and encourage them to explain their thinking
• Listen to audiobooks together and pause to talk about the story
• Keep a few books in the car and read aloud during quiet moments
• Encourage your child to retell something they heard or saw
• Sing silly songs or make up silly stories 

If you are planning a family trip this summer, take some time to look at the route you’ll be on and see if your stops or stretch breaks could be more fun and educational than your typical gas station. 

As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, there are opportunities everywhere to explore history together. The America250 events calendar is a simple way to find events, exhibits, and celebrations happening across the country that you may be crossing paths during a trip. These experiences, whether big or small, help bring history to life and give children meaningful context for what they read.

Most importantly, let your children see that learning is not something that only happens in a classroom. It happens in the car, in conversation, in curiosity, and in time spent together.

As we head into summer, I encourage you to keep literacy woven into your daily lives in simple, meaningful ways. Talk with your children. Read with them. Explore together. The time you spend building their knowledge now will directly support their ability to read, understand, and think critically later.

Our children are bright, capable, and full of potential. With parents leading the way, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

Warmly,
Miranda Stovall