Finds that the home literacy environments of European American and African American families did not differ as strongly as those of middle-income and low-income families, with many low-income parents (regardless of race) placing relatively more emphasis on structured activities and on ostensible component skills in literacy. (SR)

Reports on research conducted over a six-year period on the relationship between children's art and reading levels. Provides an overview of literature on children's development in and through their art, examining the reading-art connection. Presents findings from one study in Grenada primary schools and three in Ontario, Canada. (CMK)

Describes a course that linked first-grade students using emergent writing skills with university early-childhood majors studying the process of emergent literacy, and, in so doing provided an authentic and meaningful learning context for both groups. Suggests that the pen-pal project demonstrates the value of interactive writing exchanges.…