Parental Involvement and the Influence of Parents’ Prior Literacy Experiences

Abstract

This study examines parents’ prior literacy experiences and how those experiences influence their involvement with literacy activities at home. The data for this study were collected through interviewing parents who had children in my kindergarten classroom. After analyzing the data, multiple themes were identified, which includes positive literacy experiences may be provided by adults other than parents, parental involvement takes on many forms, and the importance of teachers and parents to establish relationships to support student literacy learning. The conclusion of this study is that parents’ prior literacy experiences have a direct influence on their involvement with their children. This is because parents carry their prior experiences with them as adults. Parents will try to replicate their prior experiences with their children. The literacy activities that parents engaged in as a child are what they will try to engage in with their own children at home