Abstract

Research suggests that teen mothers tend to provide fewer literacy opportunities for their children than older mothers do. This is problematic, since low literacy has been linked to poor academic achievement. As a result, teen mothers and their children tend to be drawn into cycles of poverty. The goal of this project was to interview teen mothers in the Grand Rapids community in order to better understand their perceptions of reading and discover the kinds of books that interest them. Based on their responses, we have recommended a reading intervention program that targets the unique interests and needs of this population. The purpose of such a program is to encourage teen mothers to read more often, as well as make literacy a larger part of their children’s lives.