Date Approved
8-2021
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education-Literacy Studies: TESOL (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Elizabeth Stolle
Academic Year
2020/2021
Abstract
A child’s home environment is one of the greatest contributors to their social and cultural background, as it innately impacts their educational experiences and attitudes towards learning. Similarly, language development and literacy are deeply rooted in social, cultural, and historical experiences. Thus, the integration of literacy within home environments can strengthen families, contribute to overall academic success, and increase motivation and engagement amongst learners. While researchers and educators alike agree that fostering strong home literacy environments is beneficial for families as a whole and children as learners, many family literacy programs fail to bridge the gap between home and school because they do not consider culture as a means of better understanding a child’s language development and acquisition. To address this gap, teachers should consider the culture each child comes from and how it directly pertains to literacy in order to address the individual needs of students. This project advocates for customized family literacy plans to meet the personal requirements of families and students based on their home cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This project proposes research-based literacy practices with the intention of mentoring parents to successfully foster a home literacy environment that enhances attitudes towards literacy, language development, and relationships.
ScholarWorks Citation
Brown, Julia Marie, "Home Literacy as A Way to Improve Students’ Academic Achievement and Motivation, Foster Strong Familial Relationships, and Bridge the Gap Between Home and School: A Framework for Custom Family Literacy Programs" (2021). Culminating Experience Projects. 65.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/65
