Staff
Renaissance harnesses the power of families in literacy development by enabling schools to build meaningful partnerships with parents. By embedding its Complete Literacy Solution into everyday routines, educators can strengthen fluency, build comprehension and nurture a lifelong love of reading
Dubai, Jan 23, 2026: As the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family, schools have an opportunity and a responsibility to deepen the role of families in student learning, especially in the development of literacy. With diverse, multilingual classrooms being the norm across the UAE, creating meaningful partnerships between school and home is no longer optional; it’s essential.
Literacy growth doesn’t happen just in school. Research shows that students who engage in reading for just 15 minutes a day make gains well above the average. But what’s even more impactful is when this reading time is purposeful, consistent and supported both in school and at home.
“Purposeful reading means more than just turning pages. It’s about helping students choose the right books, set personal goals, reflect on their reading and build fluency over time,” explains Georgina Cook, Language and Literacy Specialist, Renaissance. “When families are part of that process, whether reading together, discussing books or celebrating progress, literacy becomes not just a school activity, but precious family time that will benefit the child for life,” she adds.
Schools can play a critical role in making this happen by providing parents with simple strategies (like asking open-ended questions after reading or setting reading routines) to help them feel confident in supporting literacy, regardless of their language background or educational experience.
At the same time, schools can leverage tools that help make reading visible and engaging. Digital platforms that offer personalised book recommendations, track progress and celebrate achievements create opportunities for students to enjoy and embrace their reading progress. They also give families a window into that journey, making it easier to stay involved, even with busy schedules.
In international schools, where parents may feel uncertain about how to support English literacy, this guidance is even more vital. By combining strong pedagogy with practical tools, schools can transform reading development through a home-school partnership that boosts comprehension, motivation, and a lifelong love of books.
Empowering educators and families: Renaissance’s approach to literacy
“In a year dedicated to strengthening family ties, we have an opportunity to shift the narrative: from schools working alone, to families and educators working together. Together we can make every reading minute count and every home a place where reading and literacy are part of family life,” says Cook.
Renaissance’s Complete Literacy Solution (CLS) brings together assessment, reading practice, and progress tracking in one cohesive framework. It’s a perfect fit for multilingual and international school settings.
With CLS, schools can establish purposeful reading routines that work both in class and at home. “This unified approach helps educators guide families with confidence, ensuring students experience consistent support, make visible progress and develop a growing love for reading, wherever they are,” adds Cook.
Star Reading enables educators to identify students’ reading levels quickly and reliably, so every learner is working with texts that are ‘just right’ for their ability. These insights also help teachers guide families in supporting reading at home with greater confidence.
myON provides students with unlimited access to digital books at their reading level, available anytime, anywhere. This makes it easy for parents and carers to actively support their child, reading together, listening to narrated stories, or encouraging independent reading during family time.
Accelerated Reader connects students, educators and families in building confident, fluent readers. It supports daily reading habits through personalised goals, quick comprehension checks and visible milestones, making reading progress easy to see and celebrate. As students enjoy their reading progress, families can follow along, celebrating their child’s achievements in real time.
Educators remain in control of learning pathways, while also empowering parents to take an active, informed role. By embedding the Complete Literacy Solution into school–home routines, educators can foster consistent, purposeful practice that strengthens fluency, builds comprehension and cultivates a lifelong love of reading.
Interested in learning more about the Complete Literacy Solution and how it helps teachers and families alike, engage students in purposeful literacy practice? Join in this webinar: Families first: How schools can empower parents to support literacy at home.
