Diversifying Family Involvement Strategies to Promote Adolescent Literacy Development

• In Event: AERA Graduate Student Research in Progress Roundtable Session One
  In Roundtable Session: Examining Literacy Development and Writing Performance and Discourse of Adolescents (Table 8)

Abstract

This literature review examines family engagement in adolescents' (ages 11–18) literacy development and describes the methodologies researchers have used to investigate this complex phenomenon. The results indicated that researchers typically use quantitative methods and survey data to explore relations between family involvement and adolescents' literacy development. Eight forms of family involvement were identified across the interview and survey questions examined. An overview of the findings included in this review showed that overall, there were not sufficient studies on similar populations to conclude that certain forms of family involvement were effective in supporting the literacy development of adolescents. However, studies have been consistent in showing that parents' expectations have a positive influence on the literacy development of grade eight students. Findings also indicated that there are different ways that families could support the literacy development of adolescents beyond what is traditionally considered.

Author

• Darlshawn Patterson, University of South Florida
  Presenting Author