National Family Literacy Day 2012

Education advocates around the nation celebrate National Family Literacy Day^® and National Family Literacy Month^® by organizing and conducting literacy events that promote family literacy and learning. The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) leads these efforts by providing special programming, award opportunities, and materials to build awareness and engage families in celebration of the day and throughout the month of November.

On November 1, 2012, NCFL celebrates National Family Literacy Day and ushers in National Family Literacy Month with the announcement of two grant opportunities and the release of the publication Cultivating Readers.

NCFL will soon be accepting applications for the 2013 Toyota Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding teachers demonstrating exemplary educational practices in family learning and parent engagement. The winner will receive $20,000 for his or her program as well as a trip to the 2013 National Conference on Family Literacy, which will be held from April 28 through April 30 in Louisville, KY. This will be the 17th year for the annual award.

In addition to the 2013 Toyota Teacher of the Year award, NCFL is also awarding 10-20 mini-grants of $500 each for teacher-led programs and events that emphasize intergenerational participation and learning. NCFL recognizes the important work that is happening across the nation and therefore welcomes teachers, family literacy professionals, homeschool consortiums and other family literacy and learning advocates to apply for this special opportunity for 2013. An online application will be available November 1.

Cultivating Readers, available in print and online in English and Spanish, is a parent guide to building reading skills in children ages birth to eight. The guide gives tangible tips for parents to implement and also includes a calendar of monthly language activities to stimulate learning throughout the year. The publication is available for download or can be ordered free of charge for a limited time. Release date for this publication is November 12.