Appendix E

Interview Guide: Family Literacy Practices37

  1. Adult Exemplars of Literacy Behavior
    Who reads?
    When?
    Where? (Child(ren) present?)
    What is read? (preferences)
    How much? How long?
    What language(s)?
  2. Child Participation in Literacy Associated Activities
    Does the child read alone? How often?
    To whom does s/he read? How often?
    Is the child read to? By whom? How often?
    Who initiates reading to child? What is read? (preferences)
    What games are played by the child?
    Does the child use a computer?
  3. Access to Reading and Writing Materials
    What types of writing materials are available?
    Where are reading and writing materials kept?
    Who uses these?
    What types of reading materials are owned?
    Any subscriptions?
    Is the library used? By whom?
  4. Purposes of Reading and Writing
    Daily living tasks (e.g., shopping; cooking; bills; forms; etc.)
    School or work-related? Interpersonal purposes (e.g., letters; notes; cards)?
    Pleasure (e.g., hobbies; games)?
    Adult learning?
    Volunteer activities (e.g., service clubs, church, community groups, etc.)
  5. Parental Involvement in School Activities
    School programs?
    Homework assistance?

Demographic Information
Who lives in the household (gender, age, last grade completed, language(s) spoken)

37 adapted from: Chaney, C. (1994). Language, development, metalinguistic awareness, and emergent literacy skills of 3-year children in relation to social class. Applied Psycholinguistics, 15(3), pp. 391-392.