Examining the Mediating Effects of Home Literacy Environments on Reading Growth Across Four Language Backgrounds

• In Event: 21.060 - Fairmont Royal York Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: 21.060-3 - Literacy, Attendance, Teacher Pension Perceptions, and Postsecondary Supports

Abstract

Early literacy and language development are critical in children’s early reading development. A recent line of research has underscored the need to examine mechanisms relating family SES and home literacy practices to reading growth across children of different language backgrounds, suggesting children from immigrant and native households may exhibit different patterns of literacy acquisition. These initial findings, however, need to be corroborated with longitudinal data over extended periods of time using nationally representative samples to enhance their external validity. Our study contributes to this research by utilizing a national longitudinal dataset to examine how family SES and changing parent literacy practices may contribute to the reading growth of early elementary school students with diverse home language backgrounds.

Authors

• Ronald H. Heck, University of Hawaii - Manoa

• Tingting Reid, University of Hawaii at Manoa