Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation

Abstract In the USA, comprehensive family literacy programs integrate adult education and parent education, interactive parent-child literacy activities, and early childhood education or school for children. Although parents’ learning is central to family literacy, research overwhelmingly focuses on...

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Main Authors: Carol Clymer, Jungeun Lee, Elisabeth L. McLean, Esther Prins
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-09-01
Series:Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-024-00286-w
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author Carol Clymer
Jungeun Lee
Elisabeth L. McLean
Esther Prins
author_facet Carol Clymer
Jungeun Lee
Elisabeth L. McLean
Esther Prins
author_sort Carol Clymer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the USA, comprehensive family literacy programs integrate adult education and parent education, interactive parent-child literacy activities, and early childhood education or school for children. Although parents’ learning is central to family literacy, research overwhelmingly focuses on children’s outcomes or positions parents as conduits of children’s learning. Thus, we know little about changes in parents’ language and literacy capabilities, self-concepts, social support systems, or other benefits. This study reports findings from a multi-year, mixed-methods evaluation of five family literacy programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participants were primarily immigrant mothers. Qualitative data, along with statistically significant quantitative data from a pre-post survey (n = 139), demonstrate learning in four domains: educational, personal, social, and parenting. Specifically, parents developed literacy and language skills; enjoyed reading more and spent more time reading alone and with children; were more involved in everyday literacy practices; increased their self-confidence and self-esteem; provided support for each other, developed friendships, and built a sense of community; and increased support for and involvement in their children’s development, literacy, and education. These results build on prior research on parental outcomes and illustrate the value of using multi-faceted, holistic measures to examine how parents benefit from family literacy.
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spelling doaj-art-c92d2e3ad0c5475c88f4914e6a1b4db52025-08-20T02:49:56ZdeuSpringerOpenZeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report2364-00142364-00222024-09-0147229731910.1007/s40955-024-00286-wParents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluationCarol Clymer0Jungeun Lee1Elisabeth L. McLean2Esther Prins3The Pennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State UniversityAbstract In the USA, comprehensive family literacy programs integrate adult education and parent education, interactive parent-child literacy activities, and early childhood education or school for children. Although parents’ learning is central to family literacy, research overwhelmingly focuses on children’s outcomes or positions parents as conduits of children’s learning. Thus, we know little about changes in parents’ language and literacy capabilities, self-concepts, social support systems, or other benefits. This study reports findings from a multi-year, mixed-methods evaluation of five family literacy programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participants were primarily immigrant mothers. Qualitative data, along with statistically significant quantitative data from a pre-post survey (n = 139), demonstrate learning in four domains: educational, personal, social, and parenting. Specifically, parents developed literacy and language skills; enjoyed reading more and spent more time reading alone and with children; were more involved in everyday literacy practices; increased their self-confidence and self-esteem; provided support for each other, developed friendships, and built a sense of community; and increased support for and involvement in their children’s development, literacy, and education. These results build on prior research on parental outcomes and illustrate the value of using multi-faceted, holistic measures to examine how parents benefit from family literacy.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-024-00286-wFamily literacyFamily learningIntergenerational learningAdult educationEvaluation
spellingShingle Carol Clymer
Jungeun Lee
Elisabeth L. McLean
Esther Prins
Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation
Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung - Report
Family literacy
Family learning
Intergenerational learning
Adult education
Evaluation
title Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation
title_full Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation
title_fullStr Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation
title_full_unstemmed Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation
title_short Parents’ learning in family literacy: a mixed-methods evaluation
title_sort parents learning in family literacy a mixed methods evaluation
topic Family literacy
Family learning
Intergenerational learning
Adult education
Evaluation
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40955-024-00286-w
work_keys_str_mv AT carolclymer parentslearninginfamilyliteracyamixedmethodsevaluation
AT jungeunlee parentslearninginfamilyliteracyamixedmethodsevaluation
AT elisabethlmclean parentslearninginfamilyliteracyamixedmethodsevaluation
AT estherprins parentslearninginfamilyliteracyamixedmethodsevaluation