A Critical Discourse Analysis was used to examine the parents' social practice during shared storybook reading with young children (birth to eight-years-old). The methodology involved two phases: (1) educational databases were searched and (2) a template was developed and used to code the programmes' components and studies' research design.…

Family literacy refers to parents and their children using literacy together at home. They participate in literacy experiences in a natural way during their daily routines. Studies on family literacy show its impact on the children's literacy development. For more than five decades, family literacy studies have demonstrated the importance of the…

Researchers and educators have developed an interest in language development. Their studies focused on the cultural context in which language is learned and developed and its relationship to cognitive development. This article reviews the researchers' definitions on oracy and its social facets of language learning. Specifically, it reviews studies…

Assessed cognitive styles of 300 children aged 3-5 years and explored social factors in children's play based on their cognitive style. Field dependent children engaged more often in activities with others and with concrete objects, while field independent children were more involved in restructuring the environment. (RJC)

The relationship between cognitive style and academic performance was examined in a study of first- and third-grade students. The research focused on the differences in academic achievement of field-dependent-independent children and differences affected by sex and grade level. Results are presented. (DF)

A sample of 2,232 children, aged three-five years, was administered the Preschool Reading Attitudes Scale to assess the developmental aspects of reading attitudes. Factor analysis on test-retest results for 360 subjects indicated stable and interpretable factors distinguishing three-, four-, and five-year-old students. (TJH)

Examined the home literacy experiences of 15 families who participated in a parent program which used a workshop approach to help parents develop skills and understandings needed to create a supportive literacy environment in their home. Analyzed results and outlined activities according to the pattern of use of nonliteracy, literacy, library, and…

Conducted content analysis of interview data to determine families' involvement in 100 first graders' literacy development. Identified four categories of involvement: reading at home, reading outside the home, using other literacy activities and materials, and writing activities. Found that many family literacy activities/materials do not…

Used responses from open-ended interviews with 10 families of young children to develop a 60-item family literacy questionnaire examining families' perceptions of their contributions to emergent literacy. Matched questionnaire factors with those emerging from literature review on family variables influencing literacy. Found 95 percent agreement on…