Handbook of Family Literacy

Providing intervention services for at-risk children and their families has become a major goal of countries throughout the world. A vital part of this movement is the introduction of family literacy services not only in the US but throughout Europe, Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The emerging field of family literacy, which cuts across early childhood education, early literacy development, parent education, adult education, and parent-child literacy interactions has never had a comprehensive volume that pulls together and integrates its many interacting components. That is the mission of this Handbook. It provides an up-to-date picture of existing family literacy programs, of the research and theories that guide these programs, of current issues, and of likely future directions.

The new edition of this Handbook focuses on the intergenerational transfer of literacy and shows why family literacy is basic to the goals of any country. It discusses the latest developments in child and adult literacy, parent education, and the implications of family literacy for home visiting programs. Information on culture and diversity remain central to the discussion of family literacy and new information on the role of fathers is presented.

• Comprehensive Coverage – Whereas many books deal with various components of this broad and loosely coupled field, this is the first to profile and integrate its many overlapping components.

• New Information – In addition to updating all topics, there is an increased focus on the role of fathers, on second language learners, and on procedures for meeting the needs of specific ethnic groups.

• Recommendations for Practice – Information essential to the development of curriculum and instructional practices in integrated throughout the book. Program recommendations cover such topics as integrating the curriculum, enriching early childhood classrooms, enhancing parent-child literacy interactions, and coordinating with other agencies.

Part I. Overview

1. Overview. Why be concerned with family literacy? Barbara H. Wasik and Barbara Van Horn

2. US Statistics on Family Literacy Needs, Barbara Van Horn and Esther Prins

3. Overview of International Efforts in European Countries, Maren Elfert UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Hamburg, Germany

4. Overview of International Efforts in African Countries, Ulrike Hanemann UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in Hamburg, Germany

Part II. Early Childhood Education

5. Implications of the National Early Literacy Panel for Family Literacy Programs, Thomas Shanahan and Chris Lonigan

6. Oral Language Development

7. Preschool Children, David Dickinson

8. School-Age Children, Dorothy Strickland

9. The Role of Early Mathematics in Family Literacy, Herbert P. Ginsburg

Part III. Adult and Parent Education

10. The Importance of Adult Learning in Family Literacy, Barbara Van Horn and Esther Prins

11. Effective Strategies for Teaching Reading to Adults, John Kruidenier

12. Effective Strategies for Teaching Math to Adults, Lynda Ginsburg

13. Preparing Adults for the Future: Transitions to Work or Post-Secondary Education, Thomas Stitch

14. Strategies for Promoting Parent-Child Literacy Interactions, Barbara Hanna Wasik, Joseph Sparling, and Beth Anne Feldman

15. Parent Engagement and Parent Leadership, Blaire Toso and Drucie Weirauch

Part IV. Services in the Home

16. Home visiting programs and family literacy, Deborah Daro, Heather Weiss, or Jeanne Brooks Gunn

17. Essential Skills for Home Visiting, Barbara Hanna Wasik

V. Family Culture

18. The Role of Fathers in Family Literacy Programs, Vivian Gadsden

19. Meeting the Needs of African-American Families, Oscar Barbarin and others

20. Meeting the Needs of Native American Families, Susan Faircloth

21. Meeting the Needs of Migrant Families, Sandra Barrueco

VII. Second Language Learners 

22. Special needs of children, Eugene Garcia Arizona State University

23. Helping Children Who Are Second Language Learners, Dina Castro FPG Institute at UNC

24. Meeting the Needs of Immigrant Parents Who Are Second Language Learners, Elsa Auerbach

VIII. Assessment of Program Quality 

25. Assessing Early Childhood Classrooms, Robert Pianta

26. Assessing Parent Education and Parent-Child Literacy Interactions, Andrea Dubruin-Parecki

27. Assessing Adult Education, Sheila Sherow and Lori Forlizzi

28. Issues in fidelity and validity in conducting research on family literacy programs, Barbara Hanna Wasik, Joseph Sparling, and Beth Anne Feldman

Part X. Future Directions for Family Literacy

29. Models Guiding Program Evaluation, Deborah Daro and/or Heather Weiss

30. Action Research for Program Improvement, Drucie Weirauch

31. Family Literacy Policies and Education, Sharon Darling and Tony Peyton (National Center for Family Literacy)

32. What Needs to be Done and Why, Barbara Van Horn and Barbara Wasik