Kindergarten Literacy Initiative Project (KLIP) Julie Newman Kingery, Ph.D. and Casey Marshall, WS ‘09 Hobart and William Smith Colleges

KLIP Background Request for community research collaboration from Jane Gerling and Stu Einstein Request for community research collaboration from Jane Gerling and Stu Einstein Research Question: Research Question: How are literacy levels of kindergarteners in Geneva related to aspects of the home environment? How are literacy levels of kindergarteners in Geneva related to aspects of the home environment?

KLIP Participants 121 kindergarten students and their parents 121 kindergarten students and their parents 56 boys and 65 girls 56 boys and 65 girls mean age = 5.2 years mean age = 5.2 years 76% of all kindergarteners in Geneva City school district 76% of all kindergarteners in Geneva City school district

KLIP Participants Family Household Income Family Household Income 35% of sample – annual income less than $30,000 35% of sample – annual income less than $30,000 45% of sample - $30,000 to $75,000 45% of sample - $30,000 to $75,000 20% of the sample – above $75,000 20% of the sample – above $75,000 Parental Education Level Parental Education Level 26% High School Degree or Less 26% High School Degree or Less 27% Some College 27% Some College 34% 2 or 4 year College Degree 34% 2 or 4 year College Degree 13% Graduate Degree 13% Graduate Degree

KLIP Results Literacy scores Literacy scores Ranged from 1 to 15 Ranged from 1 to 15 Mean score = Mean score = % of the children fell below the mean 33% of the children fell below the mean

Number of Books in the Home

Visits to the Public Library

Reading at Home

Other Relationships Higher child literacy scores were associated with: Higher child literacy scores were associated with: Higher household income Higher household income Higher parental education level Higher parental education level More frequent parental reading at home More frequent parental reading at home More frequent trips to the library More frequent trips to the library Higher number of books in the home Higher number of books in the home

Limitations & Future Directions Home literacy information gathered via parent self-report on the 1 st day of kindergarten Home literacy information gathered via parent self-report on the 1 st day of kindergarten Findings about relationship between home environment and child literacy consistent with past research Findings about relationship between home environment and child literacy consistent with past research Findings confirm importance of Geneva Reads Initiative Findings confirm importance of Geneva Reads Initiative