Bringing Red Bags Home
Introducing Red Bags at home is super easy!
Our introductory handouts introduces families to the Red Bag, reminds them of the days to receive and return the bags, and links them to a YouTube video about story times.
Family Introduction
Story Time Introduction
Share RAR MA’s YouTube page, which features a video in 7 languages introducing parents to the basics of cultivating an at-home reading habit with their children.
Downloads
Family Contract
Partners may use this optional family contract to raise awareness of the Raising A Reader MA program and promote proper care of red bags and books
Downloads
Visual Explanation
Use this visual explanation of our Red Bag rotation for as an easy way to help families understand our program.
Downloads
Red Bag
Return Reminders
Reminder Slips
Attach these quarter-page reminders to the Red Bags if families need extra support getting materials back in time.
Downloads
Communicating
With Families
Creating
Routines
Take advantage of face to face communication during pick-up and drop-off times.
Remind them of classroom emails or send home newsletters. Use RAR-MA Newsletter prompts for a “Raising a Reader MA corner” of your program’s newsletter.
Remind families of deadlines for Red Bag returns and RAR-MA paperwork.
Ask about parent’s experience with Red Bags and reading at home.
Encourage
Involvement
Some suggestions for helping get parents involved.
Customize the program depending on parent feedback. For example, maybe families like to see activities in the Red Bags to keep children engaged.
Invite parents and caregivers to RAR-MA family engagement events.
Invite families into your space! Ask parents to be guest storytellers, help with bag rotation, or share tips for other families.
Family Tips
Reading Red
Bag Books
Books with Diverse Families and Languages
This handout shares why their Red Bag includes books in other languages or families with diverse structures, and how to use these books.
Downloads
Wordless Books
Communicates the value of wordless books and how to use them.
Downloads
Rereading Books
Handout that describes skills students should have when they enter Kindergarten and provides examples of activities to develop these skills
Downloads
Bag Repetition
Celebratory announcement that families may begin to receive repeat bags and tells them some tips and the benefits of re-reading.
Downloads
Resources for Families with Bilingual Children
LitKits
LitKits are a set of tip cards educators can use with parents to send quick and consistent messages to families about reading at home. These outline easy ways to integrate dialogic reading strategies into everyday conversation, and are tailored to different age groups.
Downloads are in English and Spanish.
Las descargas están en Inglés y Español.