In Fall 2008 Raising A Reader MA (RAR MA) partnered with the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) in Lawrence to bring the RAR program to their home visiting program serving a capacity of 64 children. Some of these families also participated in a survey, which aims to analyze the impact of Raising A Reader program on family behavior towards sharing books with their children. 57 completed the pre-survey, and 28 families completed the post-survey.(1)
Because research has shown that “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children,”(2) we focus our attention on behavior changes between the pre and post surveys in two key areas: frequency of sharing books at home and use of dialogic (interactive) reading strategies. PCHP families show impressive gains in theses behaviors. After participating in Raising A Reader, 96% of families are now sharing books 3 or more times per week.
In addition, families reported a significant increase in their supportive and interactive behavior while sharing books with their children. Parents reported an increase in their children engaging in the following behaviors while sharing books: asking and answering questions, listening to the story, telling their own story, and turning the pages. In addition, 100% of parents reported that they themselves changed their dialogic reading behaviors, reporting an increase of the following strategies: asking questions, talking about the pictures, singing song, and making up their own stories. Finally, after participating in RAR, 100% of parents reported that their children enjoy or very much enjoy sharing books with someone in the family.
The post-surveys also reflected overall satisfaction with the Raising A Reader program. 100% of families who felt the questions were applicable expressed that they were very satisfied with RAR books, training, and staff, and with the overall program.
Parent Comments
This program is very good.
Thanks a lot for the program. I appreciate it a lot.
I appreciate this program very much. I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know before with my son like the importance of reading.
This program is very interesting and instructive. I congratulate you on a good program.
An essential program for the community of Lawrence.
Excellent program!
Key Findings
The percentage of families sharing books with their children 3 or more times per week increased 31 points and 48% from 65% on the pre-survey to 96% on the post-survey. When asked retrospectively (eg. How many times a week did you read before the program?), this gain reached 89 points, with just 7% recalling that they shared books 3 or more times previously.
100% of parents reported an increase in engaging in the following behaviors while sharing books with their children: asking questions, talking about the pictures, singing songs, and making up their own stories.
3. The percentage of families who reported that their children enjoy or enjoy very muchsharing books with someone in their home increased from 77% to 100%.
Table
(1) Demographic information from the pre-survey show that 68% of parent respondents primarily spoke Spanish in the home with the remainder English speaking. 96% were identified as Latino/Hispanic and the remainder as multi-ethnic or other. 90% had a family income below $30,000. 7% had no formal schooling, 5% had 1-6 years of formal education, 35% had 7-14 years, 32% were high school graduates, 16% had 2 or more years of training or education with a degree beyond high school, and 2% had a Bachelor’s Degree or above.
(2) Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report of the Commission on Reading. The National Academy of Education, 1985.