VIDEO-BASED, HOME LITERACY PACKAGES FOR HEAD START FAMILIES

WHILE RESEARCH UNDERSCORES THE INFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY ON CHILDREN'S LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, SOME PARENTS OF HEAD START CHILDREN MAY THEMSELVES HAVE LIMITED READING SKILLS. THERE ARE MANY LITERACY-RELATED ACTIVITIES, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH PARENTS CAN ENJOY WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THIS PROJECT WILL DESIGN AND DEVELOP A SERIES OF VIDEO-BASED, FAMILY LITERACY PACKAGES FOR HEAD START CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. PHASE I EFFORTS WILL (1) DEFINE AND ANALYZE THE TARGET AUDIENCE, APPROPRIATE CONTENT, AND DELIVERY SYSTEM; (2) OUTLINE A SERIES OF 10 PACKAGES; AND (3) DESIGN AND PRODUCE A PROTOTYPE LITERACY PACKAGE. THE PROTOTYPE WILL INCLUDE A 10- TO 20-MINUTE VIDEOTAPE WITH A "STIMULUS" SEGMENT FOR CHILDREN AND A COMPLEMENTARY SEGMENT MODELING A PARENT AND CHILD ENGAGED IN AN INFORMAL, FOLLOWUP ACTIVITY. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE ACTUAL MATERIALS (E.G., A WORDLESS "BOOKLET") TO PROMOTE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION. ACTIVITIES WILL USE SIMPLE, LOW-COST MATERIALS AND WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR LOW-LITERACY PARENTS. IN PHASE II, THE RESEARCHERS WILL EVALUATE THE PROTOTYPE, MAKE REQUIRED REVISIONS, AND PRODUCE ADDITIONAL PACKAGES AND A TEACHER'S GUIDE.