Danielle’s two younger children have a bedtime story every night. All three children completed two years of preschool prior to starting elementary school. Danielle and her husband sit with their children and help them with their homework. Their children have a Balanced Literacy Program at school and bring home books regularly. They also have their own bookshelves packed with books.

Danielle expects her son to obtain at least a university degree. Both Danielle and her husband work at home and both model reading. Her husband reads technical, work-related material and Danielle reads technical material, novels, magazines and correspondence.

Danielle finished her Ph.D. four years ago. When she was completing her doctorate, she modeled reading and writing for about 15 hours a week. Danielle has also taught for the past four to five years and her children see her developing courses, marking assignments and examinations. Danielle’s husband watches television every night.

Danielle’s son has a subscription to Chickadee magazine. Her daughter, who has special needs, brings home books from the school library. Her son is a grade ahead in school (in Grade 3); he misses out on library time because he joins the Grade 2 class for science while his Grade 3 class is in the library. The children order books from the Scholastic Book Club; they pick books each month. Her son also has a public library card, which he uses rarely – a few times in the summer. Danielle’s children are very musical; they have a lot of CDs and “it’s more the kids who are doing the singing.”

Danielle’s children watch one and a half hours of television a day, primarily youth and adult cartoons. They use the internet three hours a week, mostly for recreational games. They go to the TELUS World of Science and the museum at least once a month. They also go to the Edmonton Folk Festival, Ukrainian Culture Centre, the Valley Zoo and the Calgary Zoo.