An EASY WAY to get your students using Footsteps2Brilliance is to promote home use of the program. Children that read at home 15-20 mins a day do better in school. With Footsteps2Brilliance EVERY family has access to a digital home library of 1,000's of books, skill building games, and writing activities. The best part is that YOU, as the teacher, will have real-time data on student activity and performance on Footsteps2Brilliance!

1. Family Communication Toolkit

Use these resources in your class and in your communications with families to promote the use of Footsteps2Brilliance at home:

• Student Tutorial Videos in English and Spanish - use these to demonstrate in class and to send to families to learn how to use the programs effectively.

• Family Welcome Videos in English and Spanish

• Monthly Online Family Workshops - Reading and Writing Workshops for Families / Talleres de lectura y escritura para familias - Helps families develop strong literacy practices at home

• Summer Learning Resources with Footsteps2Brilliance Virtual Summer School 

• Reading Challenges: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer reading challenges ready-to-go!

2. Prepare Parent/Caregiver Letters in English or Spanish 

• Footsteps2Brilliance has out-of-the-box parent letters that are customized to each student and family in English and Spanish. Learn how to print them here. 

3. PRO-TIPS: Keeping Families Engaged

• Include Footsteps2Brilliance on nightly reading logs
• Create frequent reading challenges and CELEBRATE!
• Send frequent reminders in newsletters, emails, texts, and other class communications
  

Before you go! Congratulations! You have set up your class and are now ready to begin using Footsteps2Brilliance. We have just scratched the surface of Footsteps2Brilliance in this Getting Started series and there is so much more to explore, including F2B Teacher Toolkits, game card maker, and creating a successful school to home connection.  Be sure to check out the FAQ section for more articles or email us at support@footsteps2brilliance.com if you have additional questions.