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The Research: What impact do family literacy efforts have on student achievement?
Programs aiming to increase student achievement
are more likely to have positive results if they engage families (Henderson & Berla, 1994). Family literacy programs and events are ideal vehicles for doing so.
Children whose families engage them in literacy activities show significant improvement in language arts and reading skills (Jordan, Snow, & Porche, 2000; National Center for Family Literacy, 2003; Shaver & Walls, 1998). Especially for children in
the elementary grades, the frequency and number of activities in which families participate have a positive impact on promotion to the next grade level as well as on reading scores (Miedel & Reynolds, 1999).
Family literacy projects also increase the frequency with which parents:
- Talk to their children's teacher
- Engage in extended conversations with their children
- Read or look at books with children
- Visit the library with children
- Volunteer at school
- Help children with homework
- Tell stories
(NCFL, 2003)
All these behaviors help create an educationally supportive and literacy-rich environment for children, ultimately contributing to learning gains.
While these findings remain constant across cultural and socioeconomic groups, the most effective programs honor the traditions, expectations, and values of the families they serve. Family literacy events provide an ideal opportunity to welcome diverse families, build trust, celebrate multiple cultures, and open the door to new ways that families, schools, and volunteer programs can collaborate to promote student success.
Elements of Successful Family Literacy Programs
Neuman, Caparelli, & Kee (1998) studied a range of family literacy programs to discover what made them successful. Their findings indicated that strong programs:
- Provide literacy instruction to families, broadly defined to include parents, caregivers, siblings, and young children
- Recruit strategically, by word of mouth and local radio and newspaper advertisements
- Involve participants in curriculum planning and development
- Increase retention through creative scheduling, transportation, and child care
- Employ experienced staff members who are knowledgeable about cultural, economic, and instructional diversity
- Engage multiple stakeholders and participants to monitor program quality
- Recognize and celebrate achievement
- Provide opportunities to form family and social networks
- Collaborate with the community and its resources
See these elements in action in the snapshots of family literacy events throughout this newsletter. |
 The Big Picture: How does family literacy support current education legislation?
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