Detta examensarbete belyser vikten av att barn kommer i kontakt med val av böcker inom förskolan. Syftet med studien är att studera hur barn reflekterar kring böcker, vilka faktorer som påverkar deras bokval samt belysa om och hur läsaren och hemmets läsvanor påverkar barns sätt i att uttrycka sig kring böcker. Idag innebär förskolan stora barngrupper för både förskollärare, föräldrar och barn. Detta medför att det blir allt svårare att tillgodose det enskilda barnet i en allt mer växande verksamhet. Idag finns det liten möjlighet för förskollärare att tillgodose samtliga barns intressen även om kraven finns enligt nationella styrdokument. Därför finns det ett intresse i att erhålla kunskaper om hur förskollärare kan anpassa delar av verksamheten i den mån det går efter det individuella barnet när möjligheten väl dyker upp. Ett sätt att anpassa verksamheten till det enskilda barnet är genom att läsa för barnen samt låta dem göra valet av böcker. Studien har genomförts genom intervjuer med barn i femårsåldern, två pojkar och tre flickor. Resultatet visar att tydliga könsskillnader finns gällande val av bokgenre, samt att barn i stor utsträckning har en djup förståelse kring böcker. Det framgår även att barn redan vid denna ålder uttrycker en förståelse för hur beroende de är av att vuxna läser för dem. Studien belyser ett tydligt mönster av hur läsvanorna i hemmet ser ut samt visar skillnader gällande vem som barnet helst ser läser för honom/henne.

The focus of this study was to describe childrens literacy learning in multicultural home and school contexts and identify and explore the intersection between the home and school literacy learning environments. Participant families and their teachers described various aspects of home and school literacy learning. Through interviews, photography, and journals, participants answered the following research questions: How do school institutions understand and encourage literacy practices outside the school and how are these practices used to support diverse literacy learners? How do learning experiences within the home and community differ from learning experiences within the school?<p> Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and researcher observations within the home and school contexts. Additionally, parent participants were asked to capture literacy and learning events through the use of cameras and daily journaling. The qualitative nature of the study allowed the researcher to record participants literacy experiences and understandings in the authentic environments of the home and school.<p> This research study reflects the theory of literacy as a socio-cultural phenomenon. This theory recognizes that literacy learning in any environment cannot be separated from its context and recognizes that literacy is more than individual skills, but rather a community resource that is developed through interaction with others. Although all families possess useful knowledge and understandings that allow them to arbitrate their daily lives, unfortunately, as this study demonstrates, literacies are often ranked as more or less legitimate by school institutions. Literacy practices which are in close alignment with the schools are more widely accepted, and those outside the realm of the school may be undervalued or ignored.<p> Based on this qualitative study, numerous characteristics of home and school literacy were illuminated. School based literacy was more formal and based on measurable goals for each grade, defined by the school, division, and curriculum. Literacy of the school was viewed in a more traditional sense, as a set of skills which could be measured and recorded. Home literacy, in contrast, was more informal and spontaneous and based on the needs and interests of the learner. Learners within the home were apprenticed by their parents in learning practical, hands-on skills which were used to help mediate their daily activities. Additionally, the study highlights the literacy understandings of both the parents and the teachers of the immigrant learners. Both parent and teacher views of literacy and learning were influenced by their prior knowledge and learning experiences. The learning experiences of the parent and teacher participants were in sharp juxtaposition. Parent participants recalled larger social issues in literacy and learning such as poverty, self-sacrifice, and education as a social mobility agent. Teacher participants recalled early learning experiences based on traditional Euro-centric understanding of literacy which emphasized the importance of early skills such as phonics, word recognition, and storybook reading. The teachers did not include larger social issues which affect learning.<p> The research found that students authentic home literacy experiences were used in the home and community to aid children to problem solve and mediate every day activities. The literacy activities were purpose driven and had practical applications. In the school context, home literacy experiences were incorporated into oral literacy learning activities and narrative and creative writing assignments such as journal and story writing. Despite the incorporation of home experiences in student assignments, these experiences were not used to inform teaching and learning in the classroom. Teaching methods and evaluation techniques were not regularly adapted to meet the needs of the English as Additional Language (EAL) learners. Students who struggled to meet the demands of the curriculum were often removed from the classroom setting to work on specific skills or referred to the resource room with learning challenged students. The teachers revealed reasons which they felt impeded them from delivering more culturally responsive programs and teaching methods including time restraints, large class sizes, and inadequate resources.<p> This study identified several broad issues in literacy practices and understandings. There is an evident disconnect between home and school literacy and their uses. This is partially due to the varied experiences and understanding of parents and teachers. Closing this gap means incorporating educational reform on many levels. Teachers must be aware of student and family backgrounds, experiences, and understandings in order to create a truly inclusive learning program for diverse learners. Culturally responsive teaching means using the wide knowledge bases of all families to inform instruction and evaluation.<p> Teachers need to be provided with adequate education in preparing them for the realities of todays classroom. Culturally and linguistically diverse modern classroom have challenges which many teachers do not feel prepared. Providing adequate pre-service education on EAL learning and student diversity seeks to prepare teachers. Additionally, in-service education experiences on literacy practices for teaching in the culturally diverse classroom are essential in providing teachers with current information and resources. Furthermore, in examining existing parental engagement strategies, teachers can learn to create engaging opportunities for families to participate in their childrens learning.The broadest issue within the study is the multicultural reality for the immigrant and EAL student. The education system needs to move away from multiculturalism as a Canadian catch phrase involving foods and celebrations toward culturally responsive teaching which uses students linguistic and cultural knowledge to inform learning.

A quantitative and qualitative research study was conducted to discover what assistors promoted continuous enrollment of women in Texas Even Start Family Literacy programs. 270 women who were enrolled for a second program year or longer anonymously completed a questionnaire that was available in both Spanish and English. Statements regarding which assistors promoted their continuous participation along with demographic statements were included in the questionnaire; free response comments were requested as well. Statistical measurements of factor analysis, frequency response, Chi-Square, and Analysis of Variance were used. Compared to previous research (Quigley, 1997) that identified three categories of barriers, this research identified five categories of assistors: situational, institutional, dispositional, parental, and program specific. Parental assistors, as a group, were statistically significant more than any of the other assistors when measured according to the independent variables of participants' age, children's age, and enrollment level. Institutional and dispositional assistors were found statistically significant when measured according to the variable of participants' age. Post-hoc measures did not reveal statistical significance for any of the levels of the variables. However, free responses from the participants did provide insight as to why parental, institutional, and dispositional assistors were significant in both their lives and the lives of their children.

The focus of this study was to describe childrens literacy learning in multicultural home and school contexts and identify and explore the intersection between the home and school literacy learning environments. Participant families and their teachers described various aspects of home and school literacy learning. Through interviews, photography, and journals, participants answered the following research questions: How do school institutions understand and encourage literacy practices outside the school and how are these practices used to support diverse literacy learners? How do learning experiences within the home and community differ from learning experiences within the school?<p> Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and researcher observations within the home and school contexts. Additionally, parent participants were asked to capture literacy and learning events through the use of cameras and daily journaling. The qualitative nature of the study allowed the researcher to record participants literacy experiences and understandings in the authentic environments of the home and school.<p> This research study reflects the theory of literacy as a socio-cultural phenomenon. This theory recognizes that literacy learning in any environment cannot be separated from its context and recognizes that literacy is more than individual skills, but rather a community resource that is developed through interaction with others. Although all families possess useful knowledge and understandings that allow them to arbitrate their daily lives, unfortunately, as this study demonstrates, literacies are often ranked as more or less legitimate by school institutions. Literacy practices which are in close alignment with the schools are more widely accepted, and those outside the realm of the school may be undervalued or ignored.<p> Based on this qualitative study, numerous characteristics of home and school literacy were illuminated. School based literacy was more formal and based on measurable goals for each grade, defined by the school, division, and curriculum. Literacy of the school was viewed in a more traditional sense, as a set of skills which could be measured and recorded. Home literacy, in contrast, was more informal and spontaneous and based on the needs and interests of the learner. Learners within the home were apprenticed by their parents in learning practical, hands-on skills which were used to help mediate their daily activities. Additionally, the study highlights the literacy understandings of both the parents and the teachers of the immigrant learners. Both parent and teacher views of literacy and learning were influenced by their prior knowledge and learning experiences. The learning experiences of the parent and teacher participants were in sharp juxtaposition. Parent participants recalled larger social issues in literacy and learning such as poverty, self-sacrifice, and education as a social mobility agent. Teacher participants recalled early learning experiences based on traditional Euro-centric understanding of literacy which emphasized the importance of early skills such as phonics, word recognition, and storybook reading. The teachers did not include larger social issues which affect learning.<p> The research found that students authentic home literacy experiences were used in the home and community to aid children to problem solve and mediate every day activities. The literacy activities were purpose driven and had practical applications. In the school context, home literacy experiences were incorporated into oral literacy learning activities and narrative and creative writing assignments such as journal and story writing. Despite the incorporation of home experiences in student assignments, these experiences were not used to inform teaching and learning in the classroom. Teaching methods and evaluation techniques were not regularly adapted to meet the needs of the English as Additional Language (EAL) learners. Students who struggled to meet the demands of the curriculum were often removed from the classroom setting to work on specific skills or referred to the resource room with learning challenged students. The teachers revealed reasons which they felt impeded them from delivering more culturally responsive programs and teaching methods including time restraints, large class sizes, and inadequate resources.<p> This study identified several broad issues in literacy practices and understandings. There is an evident disconnect between home and school literacy and their uses. This is partially due to the varied experiences and understanding of parents and teachers. Closing this gap means incorporating educational reform on many levels. Teachers must be aware of student and family backgrounds, experiences, and understandings in order to create a truly inclusive learning program for diverse learners. Culturally responsive teaching means using the wide knowledge bases of all families to inform instruction and evaluation.<p> Teachers need to be provided with adequate education in preparing them for the realities of todays classroom. Culturally and linguistically diverse modern classroom have challenges which many teachers do not feel prepared. Providing adequate pre-service education on EAL learning and student diversity seeks to prepare teachers. Additionally, in-service education experiences on literacy practices for teaching in the culturally diverse classroom are essential in providing teachers with current information and resources. Furthermore, in examining existing parental engagement strategies, teachers can learn to create engaging opportunities for families to participate in their childrens learning.The broadest issue within the study is the multicultural reality for the immigrant and EAL student. The education system needs to move away from multiculturalism as a Canadian catch phrase involving foods and celebrations toward culturally responsive teaching which uses students linguistic and cultural knowledge to inform learning.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-201). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Pre-kindergarten students often arrive the first day of school carrying a backpack filled with supplies which they are eager to use. Inside these backpacks are scissors, glue, and crayons. This study proposes that the pre-kindergartners are also carrying another backpack, their literacy backpack holding all of their literacy skills and practices that they use every day at home. This qualitative case study examined these literacies brought from home in the students’ figurative literacy backpacks. The study also focused on their teachers’ literacy views and practices. The study was conducted in three parts. First, through field observations and interviews with parents, the literacy practices occurring at home were identified and examined. Unique “literacy stories” were crafted from the data for each of the pre-kindergartners and shared with their parents. Part two of the study examined the two pre-kindergarten teachers’ literacy practices through semi-structured interviews. The impact of external forces (e.g. state and federal mandates, school curriculum, grant requirements, and trainings) on the views and practices of the pre-kindergarten teachers was discussed. These external forces stress the development of formal literacies, thus modeling a narrow definition of literacy. Part three of the study focused on sharing the students’ “literacy stories” with their teachers and examining the teachers’ reactions to the stories. Data from the interviews following reading the stories pointed to the teachers’ acknowledging the multiple literacies found in the homes of their students and a desire to learn more about their families’ literacy practices in order to utilize them in the classroom. The students’ “literacy stories” proved to be a valuable tool in expanding the teachers’ definition of literacy. The stories helped the teachers broaden their views of literacy to include literacy practices that occur in many different cultural and social contexts; adopting a definition more in line with the socio-cultural development of literacy and the NLS concepts (Street, 2003). Using this definition, multiple literacies will be made visible in the classrooms and connections from home to school can be made allowing students to strengthen their existing literacies and expand them to incorporate other literacies. / text

Η παρούσα εργασία αναφέρεται σε μια έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε κατά τη σχολική περίοδο 2013-2014 στον Β’ Δημοτικό Παιδικό Σταθμό Μεσσήνης, στο Ν. Μεσσηνίας, με στόχο τη διερεύνηση των παραμέτρων που συνδιαμορφώνουν τις δυνατότητες εμπλοκής της οικογένειας σε αυθεντικά συμβάντα γραμματισμού και των τρόπων με τους οποίους αξιοποιούνται, για την ενίσχυση του φυσικού γραμματισμού στην παιδική ηλικία και ιδιαίτερα κατά τις ηλικίες 3-4 ετών. Η έρευνα διενεργήθηκε σε 13 οικογένειες μέσω ερωτηματολογίου και συνέντευξης και τα δεδομένα που προέκυψαν, συνεξετάσθηκαν με τα δεδομένα της παρατήρησης συμπεριφορών γραμματισμού των 15 παιδιών των οικογενειών που συμμετείχαν στην έρευνα. Η συλλογή των δεδομένων απέβλεπε στο να απαντηθούν τα ακόλουθα: (α) αν οι στάσεις και αντιλήψεις των γονιών για το γραμματισμό επηρεάζουν/υποβοηθούν την ανάπτυξη του, (β) αν η από κοινού ανάγνωση βιβλίων αποτελεί συνηθισμένη πρακτική στο οικογενειακό περιβάλλον, (γ) αν οι γονείς ενισχύουν την ενεργή συμμετοχή του παιδιού τους σε περιστατικά γραμματισμού και τέλος, (δ) κατά πόσο είναι ενήμεροι για τη σημασία του έντυπου λόγου στο περιβάλλον και ενισχύουν τις ικανότητες του παιδιού να αντλεί νόημα από αυτόν. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι γονείς στην πλειοψηφία τους κατανοούν τον ενεργό τους ρόλο στην μαθησιακή πορεία των παιδιών τους, φαίνεται όμως πως αντιλαμβάνονται το γονεϊκό τους έργο ως συμπληρωματικό του δασκάλου και, κυρίως, αναπαράγουν πρακτικές σχολικού τύπου. Με άλλα λόγια, φαίνεται να δίνουν σημασία στην εκμάθηση των γραμμάτων, πιστεύοντας ότι είναι ο μόνος τρόπος που θα συμβάλλει στην μελλοντική σχολική τους επιτυχία. Από τα παραπάνω προκύπτει η ανάγκη ευαισθητοποίησης των γονιών παιδιών προσχολικής ηλικίας σε θέματα φυσικού γραμματισμού, με έμφαση στην ενίσχυση των κινήτρων και των πρακτικών, που συμβάλλουν στην υποκίνηση της περιέργειας και του ενδιαφέροντος των παιδιών, προκειμένου αυτά να αντιληφθούν τη μάθηση ως μέσο ευχαρίστησης και κατανόησης του κόσμου γύρω τους. / This work presents research has been conducted during the 2013-2014 academic year in the 2nd Child Center of the Municipality of Messini, in Messinia, Greece. The study explores the factors affecting the potential of family involvement in early literacy events and their contribution in improving early literacy during childhood, and especially during the ages 3-4. The study is based on a questionnaire and an interview with 13 families, as well as theobservation of literacy behavior of the 15 children of the participating families. The data collection wasdesigned to address the following questions: (a) whether the parents beliefs towards literacy affect/support its development, (b) whether shared book reading is a common practice in the family environment, (c) whether parents support the active involvement of their children in literacy events,and finally (d) whether parents are aware of the importance of the environmental print and whether they try to improve the child’s ability to draw meaning from it. The results show that the majority of parents appreciate the significance of their contribution in the early literacy of their children, but they perceive their parental role as supplementary to the school teacher and more importantly, parents tend to reproduce school-type practices and activities. In other words, they believe that the most important factor for their children’s school success, is the learning of the code. It is, therefore, necessary to make aware preschool children’ parents on matters of early literacy, with particular emphasis on literacy practices that stimulate the child’s interest and curiosity and to foster the concept of learning as a source of joy and of understanding the world.

El propósito de esta investigación cualitativa es indagar, a través de un estudio descriptivo-interpretativo, la eventual incidencia de un Programa de Alfabetización Familiar en la inclusión de los niños en la cultura escrita al ingresar al primer año escolar. Para esto se evaluarán ciertas actitudes vinculadas con el tipo de contacto que establecen los hijos de algunos participantes con la cultura de los libros y los conocimientos construidos acerca del sistema de escritura y del lenguaje escrito, como así también el desarrollo de estrategias lectoras. Se parte del análisis del Programa de Alfabetización con la Familia “Cuenta Quien Cuenta”, iniciado en el año 2006 en Paysandú, Uruguay, destinado a padres, madres y otros referentes familiares de niños hasta 5 años de edad, pertenecientes a contextos de alta vulnerabilidad económica, social y cultural. El programa tiene una duración de cuatro meses, en los se desarrollan doce talleres. En estos espacios se leen cuentos, se comparten pistas sobre cómo promover la lectura frecuente y la conversación sobre libros y cuentos en el hogar, se compaginan libros y, sobre todo, se insiste en la revalorización del rol de los asistentes como primeros agentes alfabetizadores de sus hijos. Al finalizar el período de intervención, cada hogar cuenta con alrededor de dieciséis libros de cuentos como material de lectura. El relevamiento realizado sobre otros programas y experiencias de este tipo puso de manifiesto que, en general, están centrados en la descripción del seguimiento realizado y en la socialización de registros anecdóticos, no incluyendo publicaciones que den cuenta de la evaluación de sus efectos en cuanto a los conocimientos de los niños. Por esa razón, esta investigación procura aportar un conjunto de herramientas que permitan iniciar un camino tendiente a focalizar indicadores que permitan evaluar más específicamente los alcances de las acciones realizadas. / The purpose of this qualitative research is to investigate, by means of a descriptive-interpretive approach, the potential impact of a Family Literacy Program on the inclusion of children in the written culture when they enter the first grade of primary school. This Family Literacy Program assesses the knowledge built up by some participants’ children upon the writing system, as well as about their possibilities for storytelling and the form of contact they have established with books. It starts from the analysis of the program "Cuenta Quien Cuenta” (It Matters Who Tells the Story), launched in 2006 in Paysandú, Uruguay, which is directed to parents and other family members that act as significant role models for children under 5 years old living under highly vulnerable economic, social and cultural conditions. This program is compounded by twelve workshops where stories are read, clues about how to promote discussions on books and stories at home are given, and books are elaborated. These workshops emphasized on the revalorization of the role of the participants as primary agents the children’s literacy. At the end of the intervention period, each household has twelve story books as reading materials. This research attempts to appoint a systemic observation on children’s initial literacy, considering that participation in social practices of reading and writing is the inescapable way to forming readers and writers who could have access through these practices to the necessary metalinguistic reflecting levels. In the survey conducted on other programs and experiences of this type, generally they focus on the description of the monitoring and socialization of anecdotal records, not finding publications that account for the evaluation of their effects in terms of knowledge of the children. For that reason, this research seeks to provide a set of tools to start a path tending to focus indicators to assess more specifically the scope of the actions taken.

This study examined the family literacy practices of ten adult participants who attend the Tembaletu Adult Basic Education (ABE) Centre in rural KwaZulu- Natal. The aim was to explore the influence of the ABE programme on these practices? The concept of family literacy in this rural context was interrogated. This is a qualitative case study, and the data collection techniques included individual interview, focus group interviews, observation, and document analysis. Findings revealed that women engaged in varied literacy practices in their homes. Story telling was more common than reading to children. The participants in the study for the first time are able to engage with their children in school related literacy activities. The extent to which the participants and their children supported each other in their literacy development was dependent on the levels of literacy. The Adult Basic Education programme had a direct impact on the literacy practices in the families of the participants. The benefits reported by the participants included personal empowerment, enhanced self-image, and the acquisition of literacy life skills that are crucial to the health and well being of their families. The study highlights tensions between the content of adult programmes and family literacy practices valued by the participants. Other key issues that emerged in the study are: the link between family literacy and culture; gender and family literacy; family literacy in the context of HIV/Aids. The findings in this study valuable perspectives on emerging family literacy in a rural context - an area of study that is in its infancy in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of family factors and family involvement in family literacy programs in Taiwan. The 617 participants consisted of five principals, nine schoolteachers, three local library heads, and 300 parent/grandparent and child pairs, the latter aged 3-8. Five questionnaires, 339 children's book logs, 17 interviews, and observations during 30 family visits were employed to gather data. Principal-component analysis, analysis of variance, and a grounded theory approach were utilized to analyze the information gathered, The 208 families in the 8-week home-school reading program and the 131 families in the follow-up 7-week home-library summer reading program were asked to read children's books provided by the school or borrowed from the local library, to record book logs on a daily basis, and to complete questionnaires. The participating principals, teachers, and local library heads were interviewed. Results showed that no one single factor in this study determined all of the outcomes and benefits of the family literacy programs, although several family factors (e.g., children's age, parental education, occupation, and gender) had statistically significant effects on some aspects of family involvement such as families' typical and favourite reading activities, and encouragement of children's participation in the programs. Families' commitment to reading with their children was a salient factor in involvement in the family literacy programs. The participating children read with their family members, tutors, and friends. Most of the parents reported that their children had positive attitudes toward reading after participating in the family literacy programs. Principal-component analysis revealed four factors of perceived benefits from the programs: social skill-related benefits, literacy-related benefits, action-related benefits, and cognition-related benefits. Families who had participated in a previous family literacy program reported more positively about the outcomes of the programs than other families. Choral reading was found unexpectedly in family literacy practices. The parents' active correction of their children's oral reading and their concern about their children's reading skills and comprehension abilities suggest that family involvement in the family literacy programs may be related to their high expectation of their children's academic achievement. Four types of family involvement in family literacy programs emerged and a theoretical model of family factors was proposed.