ANN MCGUINNESS ELEMENTARY (WIVT/WBGH) - The parents of first and second graders at Union Endicott were invited into the classroom to observe a literacy lesson, and to bring some teaching techniques back home with them.

Students at Ann McGuinness Elementary sat alongside their parents for a read along of a holiday themed book. Families were observing the teacher, paying attention to how they were reading, and the types of questions they were asking the students.

Each family got to take a copy of the book home with them.

A first grade teacher at the school, Alison Loy says, especially over a long break, families should be reading together and continuing to learn, so once break is over, they pick up where they left off.

"Let's try to show them how it could be as easy as sitting at home during a read aloud, or sharing a bedtime story. And the kind of little bits that could be added to hopefully what's already happening at home. Just to kind of extend that learning, so their child is putting the skills that they're learning in the classroom into real world situations," Loy said.

Both the students and parents were wearing pajamas to fit the holiday theme. Classes also made snack-crafts of snowmen using foods like marshmallows, icing, and pretzels.