Strengthening the home-school literacy connection

by Brown, Kristin N.

Dr. Timothy J. Murnen, Advisor The purpose of this case study was to investigate the underlying issues impacting the home-school connection for readers in kindergarten classrooms, by exploring the following questions: What issues do parents face that affect the amount and quality of literacy activities taking place in the home, and what do parents suggest for teachers to strengthen the home-school connection? The study examined the hidden issues or underlying causes that prevent parents from supporting their children with literacy activities at home. The study also explored parents’ perceptions of their child’s current classroom teacher and her parent involvement techniques and communication. Parents were asked to provide suggestions on what the classroom teacher could do differently in order to strengthen the home-school connection. Using active interviewing (Holstein & Gubrium, 1997) as the primary method of data collection, this study examined the responses of a teacher and parents in a kindergarten classroom in Northwest Ohio. The data was used to determine the issues that affect parents’ abilities to work with their children on reading. It was also used to discover what parent involvement strategies are successful, and to find what parents feel teachers could do differently to strengthen the connection between home and school. The results of this study suggest that there are factors in the home environment that affect the amount and quality of literacy interactions that take place in the home. The study revealed that there is a need for teachers to understand the home environments that students come from in an effort to provide literacy activities that meet the needs of all students and families. Lastly, more consistent communication between the home and school is needed in order to strengthen the home-school connection. iii