Literacy Matters Vol. 23 Winter 2023

emergent literacy development (Waldrep, 2005; Weigel et al., 2006). As outlined in previous sections of this article, the HLE includes practices such as shared reading, handwriting development, oral language, and library visits. While literacy contexts reflect multiple variables and include a child’s interests, library experiences, and how parents and children enact a variety of literacy practices in the home (Myrtil, Justice, & Jiang, 2019), research also posits HLE and socioeconomic status are two factors that play a role in a young child’s literacy skills development and later reading achievement. Low-performing children in literacy skills and children from low-income families are at a higher risk of becoming struggling readers (Burgess et al., 2002). In spite of the complexities of literacy development, families play a pivotal role in their child’s language and literacy skills. Children vary widely in the skills they bring to reading instruction in the classroom, including oral language, phonological awareness, and print knowledge (Birmingham, 2007); in turn, these foundational skills are influenced by the home literacy environment that children experience in the early childhood years that must be considered as educators develop and support literacy development through collaborative approaches with students and families. It is important to remember that children successfully learn language skills through consistent experiences and opportunities with adults they love and trust. Ultimately, families have an opportunity to provide a language rich environment that serves as a foundation for experiences to build language and literacy knowledge and skills for children.

graphics that can be downloaded, shared with families, and placed in classrooms. https://readaloud.org/index.html

3) The National Center on Improving Literacy site has a plethora of literacy resources, topics, checklists, and more. The information provided by the National Center on Improving Literacy is useful for parents, families, schools, districts, and state agencies. https://improvingliteracy.org/ 4) Reading Rockets is a site that provides educators and families with various reading strategies, resources, and research. https://www.readingrockets.org/ Television Shows 5) Super Why (PBS) 6) WordWorld (PBS) 7) Martha Speaks (PBS) 8) The Electric Company (PBS) 9) Mister Rogers (PBS) 10) Daniel Tiger (PBS) 11) Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum (PBS) (The Literacy Ladies, 2022) Conclusion The home literacy environment is essential to the development of literacy among children. Specifically, families’ creation and implementation of HLE directly impact a child’s References American Library Association. (2012). No shelf required 2: use and management of electronic books (Vol. 2). American Library Association. Bingham, G. E. (2007). Maternal literacy beliefs and the quality of mother child book-reading interactions: associations with children’s early literacy development. Early Educ. Dev. 18, 23–49. doi:10.1080/10409280701274428\

Literacy Matters General Articles

Hill-Clark, K. Y. (2005). Families as educators: Supporting literacy development. Childhood education, 82(1), 46-48. doi:10.1080/00094056.2005.10521342

Hindman, A. H., Connor, C. M., Jewkes, A. M., & Morrison, F. J. (2008). Untangling the effects of shared book reading: Multiple factors and their associations with preschool literacy outcomes. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 23(3), 330–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2008.01.005 Home literacy environment checklist . Reading Rockets. (2018, April 2). Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.readingrockets.org/article/home-literacy environment-checklist

Bohrer, C. N. (2005). Libraries as early literacy centers. Public Libraries. 44(3), 127, 132.

Burgess, S. R. (2011). Home literacy environments (HLEs) provided to very young children. Early Child Development and Care, 181(4), 445-462. https://doi. org/10.1080/03004430903450384 Burgess, S. R., Hecht, S. A., & Lonigan, C. J. (2002). Relations of the home literacy environment (HLE) to the development of reading-related abilities: A one-year longitudinal study. Reading Research Quarterly , 37 (4), 408-426. https://doi. org/10.1598/RRQ.37.4.4

Jeynes, W. (2011). Parental involvement and academic success. New York, NY: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203843444

Kenner, C. (2005). Bilingual families as literacy eco-systems. Early Years , 25 (3), 283–298. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575140500251897

Kassow, D. Z. (2006). Parent-Child Shared Book Reading Quality versus Quantity of Reading Interactions between Parents and Young Children. Saroj Ghoīing Early Childhood Liīeracy Consulīanī , 1 (1), 1–8. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from http:// www.earlylit.net/early-literacy-research. Key roles for children’s liīeracy success . National Center on Improving Literacy. (2020, February 26). Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://improvingliteracy.org/brief/ key-roles-childrens-literacy-succes

Early liīeracy research . Saroj Ghoting. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2022, from http:// www.earlylit.net/early-literacy-research

Gerde, H. K., Skibbe, L. E., Bowles, R. P., & Martoccio, T. L. (2012). Child and home predictors of children’s name writing. Child Development Research, 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/748532

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