Argues that programs teaching parents to assist children with homework practice the "deficit hypothesis" and are not based on sound research. Proposes a broader definition of family literacy that acknowledges the family's social situation, focuses on the family's strengths, and uses a social-contextual approach to curriculum development. (SK)

Reflects upon the development, implementation and research of specific intergenerational family literacy initiatives in the Anglophone section of New Brunswick. Presents four initiatives and discusses working with the community, working in the neighborhood, and working within a university context. (SG)

This report showcases four programs nationally recognized as leaders in family literacy--each of these programs has participated in a validation process sponsored by the National Diffusion Network (NDN), an agency of the United States Department of Education that disseminates information and training about exemplary educational programs and…

Designed to increase awareness of family literacy programs, this project report deals with definitions of literacy, the research base, typology of family and intergenerational literacy programs, and evaluation of these programs. The report is designed to be a resource for teachers/practitioners and administrators/funders of family literacy…

Finds that the supportive environment of "women helping women" was the hallmark characteristic of a local Even Start family literacy program and that participants were not consciously thinking about family literacy but joined the program for themselves and gave no indication of seeing the connection between the adult literacy component…

Describes a literature conference for the Harlem community on choosing and using self-affirming books for African American children. Describes Grandma's Place, a literacy and parent support center with an array of multicultural literature. Describes programs and activities that seek to support literacy, strengthen the family, and provide access to…

More than 500 intergenerational literacy programs exist in the United States, yet the idea is untested and it is difficult to identify and classify these programs. A typology identifies and classifies programs by key components and provides examples of each type. A typology, useful to practitioners, helps in planning programs, discussing them, and…

Part 1 of a two-part handbook presents course information, reading materials, and sample exercises for a distance education course designed to enhance an understanding of the nature of family literacy needs and to show how to develop and teach in family literacy programs. The first section discusses the structure of the course, the assessment…

This paper investigates existing research about the strengths and weakness of current family literacy programs and presents a 98-item list of family literacy activities across the curricula for adult educators to promote intergenerational literacy. Educational experts feel that family literacy programs need more evaluation, and that the…

The Even Start project in the Poudre (Colorado) School District involves a learning center where parents receive literacy instruction and are trained to become partners in their children's education. The program features separate parent and child activities, group activities, home visits from family monitors, field trips, and support groups. (SK)

Describes an intergenerational literacy English-as-a-Second-Language program. Stories were used to foster language and literacy development in English and participants' native language. Activities were built on the oral tradition. (Author/VWL)

Twelve articles in this special issue look at changes in adult basic education (ABE) including the following: changes in policy, the overhaul of welfare, state governance, workforce development, family literacy, the connection with employment and training, contextualized literacy, health education, political and economic literacy, adult literacy…

The prevailing issues in the development of family literacy were reviewed, and assumptions about families, family support, and learning upon which the concept is being developed were examined. A total of 173 studies on the following topics were reviewed: parent-child relationships and reading, parent-child early reading, parent/family beliefs and…

Family literacy programs are developed on the premise that the important relationships between children and adults affect literacy achievement and activity. The programs bring parents and children together in a teaching and learning environment. The critical teacher in a child's life is the parent. Family programs support and strengthen family…

Family literacy programs have been demonstrated to have significant and widespread benefits for children, parents, families, and society. Documented benefits of family literacy programs to children appear in the following areas: children's achievement in school, school attendance, oral language development, reading comprehension and vocabulary,…