Recent efforts to motivate parents' involvement in their child's literacy development involve informing parents about how to incorporate literacy development into daily routines. Teacher leadership and communication are critical--the more teachers encourage and assist parents and caregivers in supporting their child's literacy development, the…

The research reported in this article invites educators to rethink their assumptions about students and families. Using data from a qualitative, longitudinal teacher-research study, the author presents seven lessons that she has learned from the families of her students and challenges other teachers to seek ways to learn about the families they…

This article presents a socio-cultural study of parental involvement in reading by examining the reciprocal mediation between a Chinese mother and her daughter in the reading of a dual-language storybook. The findings reveal a child learning in the "interplay of her contexts" that reflects dynamics of collaborative involvement in meaning…

Practice in working with parents is changing and communicating with parents is increasingly a part of teachers' responsibilities. Besides focusing on supporting their children's learning, many schools now involve parents in education for themselves. Yet despite the expectation that they will work to engage parents in their children's learning, in…

This book addresses family literacy as a theoretically sound field of research and practice that can be used to improve literacy worldwide. The book's 14 chapters are divided into four sections. Following the "Introduction" (Andrea DeBruin-Parecki and Barbara Krol-Sinclair), under Section I--Theoretical Perspectives Related to Family…

Designed to be used independently by parents or other family members with their preschool or kindergarten-age children, this book presents (in easy-to-read cartoon-style letters) specific ideas for developing literacy skills during day-to-day activities. The book provides practice for children in the following skills: 1) life skills (such as…

This videotape generates enthusiasm by showing participants an overview of the goals and benefits of the Parents Sharing Books Program. It features parents, teachers, and principals who are involved in book-sharing programs in their schools. By watching the videotape, parents will see book-sharing strategies and motivational techniques and hear…

Designed to be used in conjunction with "On the Road to Reading: A Guide for Community Partners," this handbook focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary for tutors to help children from birth through third grade master reading fundamentals. The 5 chapters of the handbook present 11 training sessions for tutors, comprising 36 hours…

This book shares the author's discoveries in a first-grade classroom about Family Message Journals--notebooks in which children write a message to their families each day about something they did, learned, or thought about in school, and then a family member writes a message in reply. The book is intended to spur other teachers to reflect on how…

Originally developed for the Department of Defense Schools (DoDDS) system, this learning package on involving parents in the reading process is designed for teachers who wish to upgrade or expand their teaching skills on their own. The package includes a comprehensive search of the ERIC database; a lecture giving an overview on the topic; the full…

This book is intended to transcend the gap between parents and teachers so that they may work together to benefit the youngsters they share. The intent, focus, and direction of the book are all highly connected and recursive. The intent of the book is to diminish the differences between the roles of parent and teacher so that they may become…

This publication provides information that can support parents in their efforts to assist their young children's literacy development. Provided in a format that can be copied, these "literacy tips" are supplied for these three age groups: ages 0-3, ages 4-6, and ages 7-8 and are preceded by lists of ideas for using them in a family literacy…

This set of instructional materials consists of a 12-page leader's guide and 75 activity sheets to be used in adult literacy programs by parents who want to help their children learn. The leader's guide explains the purpose of the materials and offers suggestions for use of the materials one on one, in a class group, and outside the class or…

Designed for administrators, educators, and people interested in children's learning, this book explores ways to reawaken parents' understanding of their role as their children's first teachers. The volume is divided into four major sections. Part 1, which provides a background and rationale for developing intergenerational programming in support…

Intended to provide practical amd proven ideas to help children develop as literate persons, this book presents 24 essays on diverse topics to help teachers and parents realize the potential they have for improving children's literacy development. The ideas presented in the book are based on sound research, theory, and actual practice. After an…