Lesson Plan
Home Learning Heroes
Families will learn and practice evidence-based strategies to support student learning at home, strengthen communication with teachers, and commit to actionable steps that boost student success.
Engaging caregivers in learning boosts student achievement, confidence, and motivation. By building partnerships and sharing practical strategies, families will feel empowered to support learning at home, strengthening the school community.
Audience
Whole School Community
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussions, guided reflections, and action planning.
Materials
- Family Partnership Roadmap, * Snapshot: What Works at Home?, * Sharing Success Stories Discussion Guide, * Action Pledge Poster Template, * Sticky Notes, and * Markers
Prep
Prepare Workshop Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Family Partnership Roadmap slide deck and familiarize yourself with each section.
- Print copies of the Snapshot: What Works at Home? warm-up sheet for each family.
- Print the Sharing Success Stories Discussion Guide and the Action Pledge Poster Template.
- Arrange seating in small groups and set out markers and sticky notes at each table.
- Test any A/V equipment needed for the slide deck presentation.
Step 1
Welcome & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet families and introduce facilitators and the workshop goals.
- Distribute the Snapshot: What Works at Home? handout.
- Ask caregivers to spend 3 minutes writing two home-learning strategies they already use.
- Invite a few volunteers to share their examples aloud.
Step 2
Explore the Family Partnership Roadmap
10 minutes
- Display the Family Partnership Roadmap slide deck.
- Briefly walk through each of the roadmap’s four pillars (Communication, Routine Building, Positive Reinforcement, and Resource Sharing).
- After each pillar, pause to ask families how they might apply it at home.
- Encourage pair-and-share reflections to deepen understanding.
Step 3
Sharing Success Stories
10 minutes
- Introduce the Sharing Success Stories Discussion Guide.
- In small groups, ask caregivers to discuss a recent success their child had and the role home support played.
- Use the guide’s prompts to highlight effective practices and challenges overcome.
- Facilitate a 2-minute whole-group share-out of key insights.
Step 4
Action Pledge Activity
15 minutes
- Provide each family with an Action Pledge Poster Template.
- Ask participants to choose one new strategy from the roadmap to implement at home this week.
- Have families write their name, the chosen action, and a support commitment (e.g., "I will read with my child 15 minutes nightly").
- Invite families to decorate their posters with markers and stick them on the wall for mutual encouragement.
Step 5
Cool-Down & Closing
5 minutes
- Gather families in a circle around the completed pledge posters.
- Thank everyone for participating and emphasize the importance of follow-through.
- Encourage caregivers to take a photo of their pledge and share it in the school’s online community for accountability.
- Distribute contact information for follow-up support and upcoming family engagement events.
Slide Deck
Family Partnership Roadmap
Building strong bridges between home and school through four key pillars.
Welcome families and introduce the Family Partnership Roadmap. Explain that today we’ll explore four key pillars to strengthen home–school partnerships and support student success.
Pillar 1: Communication
• Regular check-ins with your child
• Open dialogue with teachers
• Home–school diaries or apps
Describe the importance of open, two-way communication. Share examples like weekly email updates or a home–school notebook. Ask caregivers for other channels they use.
Pillar 2: Routine Building
• Establish consistent study times
• Create a dedicated homework space
• Set clear expectations and schedules
Emphasize consistency and predictability. Offer a story about a family who set a daily 20-minute reading routine. Invite caregivers to share their own routines.
Pillar 3: Positive Reinforcement
• Praise effort, not just results
• Use rewards and recognition
• Celebrate milestones and growth
Explain how praising effort and progress builds motivation. Share a quick anecdote of a student encouraged to improve math skills through small rewards.
Pillar 4: Resource Sharing
• Share learning materials at home
• Connect to community programs
• Leverage curated online resources
Highlight ways to share books, educational games, community resources, and online tools. Point families to local library programs or school-hosted workshops.
Reflect & Connect
Which pillar resonates most with you?
Discuss with a partner how you might apply it at home.
Pause the presentation. Ask participants to pair up and discuss which pillar resonates most and how they’ll apply it at home. After 2 minutes, invite a few volunteers to share.
What’s Next?
• Choose one strategy to try this week
• Create your Action Pledge Poster
• Share your commitment with our community
Transition to the Action Pledge activity. Explain that each family will choose one strategy to implement this week and create a poster pledge.
Warm Up
Snapshot: What Works at Home?
Instructions
Spend 3 minutes reflecting on the questions below. Write your responses.
- One strategy I use at home to support my child's learning is:
a
- A resource or support that has made a difference is:
Pair-Share: Turn to a partner and share one of your responses. Let’s then invite a few volunteers to share with the whole group!
Discussion
Sharing Success Stories Discussion Guide
Purpose
Help families reflect on real-life home–learning successes, learn from each other’s strategies, and strengthen school–family partnerships.
Setup
- Group size: 3–4 caregivers per table
- Time: 10 minutes small‐group discussion + 2 minutes whole‐group share
- Materials: Discussion guide handout, sticky notes, markers, Family Partnership Roadmap
Discussion Steps
1. Introduction (1 minute)
Facilitator: “Today we’ll share a recent success your child experienced and explore how home support contributed. Let’s learn from each other!”
2. Small‐Group Sharing (6 minutes)
Take turns answering each prompt. Spend about 1½ minutes per person:
- Describe the success: What achievement or breakthrough did your child have recently?
- Identify the strategy: Which pillar or specific strategy from the roadmap did you use at home? (e.g., routine building, positive reinforcement)
- Implementation details: How did you put that strategy into practice? What did it look like day to day?
- Challenges & solutions: Did you face any roadblocks? How did you overcome them?
- Observed outcomes: What positive changes did you notice in your child’s learning or motivation?
3. Synthesize Key Themes (2 minutes)
As a group, agree on one standout strategy or insight that resonated most.
- Write this theme on a sticky note.
- Be ready to share it with everyone.
4. Whole‐Group Share‐Out (2 minutes)
Invite one representative from each group to:
- Read their sticky‐note theme aloud.
- Highlight how it connects back to a pillar in the Family Partnership Roadmap.
Facilitation Tips
- Encourage all voices: gently invite quieter caregivers to share.
- Affirm each story: emphasize effort, persistence, and growth.
- Refer back to roadmap pillars to reinforce connections.
- Capture additional insights on a flip chart for later reference.
Transition to Next Activity
“Thank you for sharing! Let’s carry these insights forward as we create our Action Pledges.”
Cool Down
Action Pledge Poster Template
Use this poster to commit to one new strategy from the Family Partnership Roadmap. Follow the steps below, write clearly, and decorate your poster to make it your own!
- Family Name:
- Chosen Strategy:
(e.g., Routine Building, Positive Reinforcement)
- Action Plan:
I will __________________________________________________
- Support Commitments:
(e.g., reminders, check-ins, resources)
- Date & Signature:
Date: __________ Signature: __________
Decorate your poster with markers, drawings, or stickers! Once complete, please post it on the wall to share your commitment with others.