TalkingPoints

Many people know TalkingPoints for family engagement. So why are we also talking about learning at home?

Because family engagement and academic success go hand in hand. 🤝

Study after study has shown the important role families play in helping students succeed. That led us to a simple question:
How can we make it easier for families to support learning outside the classroom?

The answer is Academics at Home.

Short, curriculum-aligned literacy and math activities delivered directly to families in their home languages, giving caregivers simple ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities.

Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q04mQYRK0

Don't Go Dark. 💡

You'll hear plenty of things schools should do over the summer, but what about the one thing they shouldn't do?

They shouldn't stop communicating.

While it's true there aren't library reminders or cafeteria menus to share, families still need information to feel confident about the year ahead.

Get creative. Share information early. Build excitement.

Show families a sneak peek of building renovations. Remind incoming kindergarten families about camp dates. Share updates about new learning devices arriving this fall.

The first day of school starts long before students walk through the door.

How does your district stay connected with families over the summer? Drop your best ideas in the comments.

What if learning didn't stop when students left the classroom?

Imagine a student sitting down to breakfast before school. They're eating a waffle. A parent asks:

"Can you cut this into halves?"
"Now, can you make quarters?"

It's a simple conversation. But it's also a chance to reinforce math skills, build confidence, and connect learning to everyday life.

That's the idea behind Academics at Home. We're helping families turn everyday moments into meaningful learning opportunities with activities delivered right to their phones.

See how it works: https://hubs.la/Q04kFx5j0

"If the vegetables don't grow, you don't blame the vegetables."

It was one of the most memorable ideas we heard at the IEL National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference.

The lesson? When engagement falls short, the answer isn't to blame families. It's to examine whether we're creating the conditions that make partnership possible.

Read more conference takeaways in our latest blog:
https://hubs.la/Q04l6SrL0

☀️ Summer planning season has arrived!

As you use the break to prepare for the next school year, it's a good time to ask:

Is family engagement fully integrated into your MTSS framework, or is it still operating alongside it?

Our webinar explores five practical strategies for making family partnerships a stronger part of student support this coming fall.

Watch the recording: https://hubs.la/Q04kNBfy0

📣 Family engagement doesn't stop at messages and announcements.

Some of the most important connections happen through report cards, permission slips, school updates, and emergency alerts.

That's why we've expanded TalkingPoints Emergency Alerts & District Communications for the 2026–2027 school year.

Districts can manage alerts, secure document delivery, digital forms, newsletters, and more from one connected platform—all in families' home languages.

See how it works 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04kdmTM0

A lot of good can happen in 10 years.

New partnerships. New ideas. New challenges to solve.

Most importantly, countless conversations between schools and families. (2 billion if we’re counting 🎉!)

As we wrap up our 10th school year at TalkingPoints, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the milestones that shaped the year and the people who made it possible.

And while we’re proud of what we’ve built together, we’re just as excited about what the next 10 years could bring. Thank you to everyone who has been with us on the journey.

Read our Year 10 reflection: https://hubs.la/Q04jQLQz0

As another school year comes to a close, we're reflecting on what we've learned alongside schools and districts across the country.

💡 One lesson stands out:

Family engagement is no longer a separate initiative. It has become a core strategy for improving attendance, academics, and student success.

But for it to be successful, it can't sit on the sidelines. It has to be part of the systems and relationships that support students every day. 🤝

Now, it's your turn. What's one lesson you'll carry into next year about engaging families? Share it in the comments!

📚 Families want to support learning at home. The challenge is knowing how.

We've seen the impact families can have when schools remove barriers to engagement. Now we're extending that same approach to learning at home.

For the 2026–27 school year, we're introducing Academics at Home, a new PreK–3 solution that helps families support the literacy and math skills students are already learning in the classroom.

Delivered directly to families' phones and translated into their home languages, these simple, curriculum-aligned activities make it easier for families to reinforce learning as part of their everyday routines.

Because when families are equipped to support learning at home, students gain more opportunities to practice and grow.

Learn more about Academics at Home: https://hubs.la/Q04jn4B20