Research Findings: In this study, 75 Spanish-speaking preschoolers (M age = 41.43 months, SD = 10.78 months; 30 girls) attending a Migrant Head Start program were randomly assigned to receive the Storytelling for the Home Enrichment of Language and Literacy Skills (SHELLS) in addition to their Head Start services (n = 32) or to continue to receive…

This study examined the print engagement of parents from low-income backgrounds living in three geographical circumstances--rural, urban, and migrant. Parents were interviewed using a modified version of an adult literacy survey. Results demonstrated that adults most stereotyped as not engaging in print literacy events engaged in a range of print…

The goal of the present 1-year long longitudinal study was to determine which home literacy variables were effective in stimulating early reading skills of children with cerebral palsy (CP) directly or indirectly via the reading precursors. Parents of 35 children with CP completed questionnaires regarding aspects of the home literacy environment…

Accounts of fathers' reluctance to engage with locally based family learning groups rarely acknowledge the relationship between learning and identity. This tends not to be the case in parallel accounts of women's reluctance to become involved in groups or networks where the mainstream clientele is male. Drawing on the case study of a national…

We examined the effects of home literacy (shared book reading, teaching activities, and number of books), children's task-focused behavior, and parents' beliefs and expectations about their child's reading and academic ability on kindergarten children's (N = 61) phonological sensitivity and letter knowledge and on Grade 1 word reading. The results…

Reports the results of a series of peer group discussions with adolescent mothers enrolled in a family literacy program. Finds that literacy was seen as important because it served as a tool to address economic and social concerns; and parents' goals for themselves focused on independence, being a role model to their children, and self-respect.…

Children drawn on a variety of experiences when they first become interested in literature. Cultural as well as economic backgrounds may influence their selection. Attitudes from family members may also influence these choices. A study determined the effect of exposure to literacy in the early years on reading in the "formal" school years.…

Investigates the thoughts, judgements, and beliefs concerning literacy of two non-reading adults, parents of a son having reading difficulties. Discusses what was influential in improving the parents' willingness to attempt reading, and what happened as their perceptions of literacy evolved and changed. (SR)

Examines children's motivation for reading in relation to parental beliefs and home literacy experiences. Reveals that the beginning readers had generally positive views about reading and that no differences in motivation were associated with income level, ethnic, or gender. Demonstrates the importance of looking beyond quantitative indices of…

Utilizing an effective literacy program as a case study, the social-constructivist approach to family literacy is discussed in this article. The role of literacy programs as mentor to the apprentice family and the consequent transformation of family to child-mentor is described. Through review of an effective faintly literacy program, it is…

Describes a workshop for parents of children enrolled in a four-week summer reading program for struggling readers. Discusses parents' views about literacy, their questions about a singular instructional focus, and their situation in the larger literacy community. Notes that radical change did not occur during the program. Argues that parents need…

Parents make powerful contributions to their children's early literacy learning in school. The purpose of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate the efficacy of the Words-to- Go parent involvement program as part of a larger effort to reach out to parents in early literacy. Quantitative data from surveys and qualitative data from focus…

Relatively few studies of family literacy programmes have investigated parents' views, despite their importance for the future development of this kind of programme in early childhood education. This article reports on a family literacy programme from the perspectives of the parents involved in it. The study was carried out in socio-economically…

An examination of family literacy programs was made in this newsletter issue to reveal the trends and practices of these programs and their contribution to the development of children of refugee parents. The examination found that most effective and innovative programs recognize that literacy instruction is more effective when it is content based…

Investigated the meaning to participating mothers of their involvement in a family literacy program in a low income, urban neighborhood. Interviews with mothers involved in the Family Reading Program indicated that mothers were concerned for their children's welfare, engaged in literacy practices, and utilized appropriate help from the school.…