Home Literacy Environment and Head Start Children’s Language Development: The Role of Approaches to Learning

• In Event: Family Partnerships and Impacts on Young Children’s Learning

Abstract

This study examined whether approaches to learning moderated the association between home literacy environment and receptive vocabulary development in Head Start children. The Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES—2003 Cohort) was used for analysis. Results showed that approaches to learning significantly moderated the influence of home literacy environment on receptive vocabulary development. Post-hoc probing of the interaction term demonstrated that children with higher levels of approaches to learning and lower levels of home literacy environment had a higher receptive vocabulary trajectory. At a preliminary level, findings suggest that positive approaches to learning may compensate for a limited home literacy environment. This information may be useful for early educators to promote positive learning attitude and predispositions toward learning.

Author

• Christine Meng, University of Wisconsin - Madison