You Try to become Totally Opposite of Your Parents or You become Just Like Them

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 16. Family and Education

Abstract

When we better understand how parents conceptualize their own school experiences, it enriches our understanding about parent’s learning-related engagement as they prepare their children for kindergarten entry. Thus, this study explores how low-income, African-American parents’ own school/family experiences shape how and why they are involved in their own child’s education. Preliminary findings derived from qualitative interviews, revealed three categories, demonstrating the variations in childhood experiences and parents own involvement in their child’ education: 1) Non-Active Parents/Family Members and Active Mothers; 2) Active Parents/Family Members and Non-Active Mothers; and 3) Active Parents/Family Members and Active Mothers. All three categories provide a sharper view of how parents’ early childhood experiences shape their own involvement and the possible implications of each experience.

Authors

• Sarai Coba-Rodriguez, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Robin L. Jarrett, University of Illinois