Influence of ecological factors on Filipino family literacy practices

• Main Author: Bernal, Teresa Patricia B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Literacy; Family literacy programs; Early Childhood Education; Language and Literacy Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6579; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/13155/viewcontent/CDTG004797_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Case studies of twelve Filipino families were conducted to determine the influence of ecological factors on their family literacy practices. The ecological factors in focus were family structure and composition, socioeconomic background, and parental beliefs in education and literacy development. The emergence of other factors was also considered. Their family literacy practices were categorized into joint, personal and ambient activities. The participant families had at least one child 2 ½ to 4 years of age at the start of the study. They belong to different socioeconomic groups, family structures and composition. Information was obtained through the use researcher designed checklists, unstructured interview guides, home and family observations, as well as artifact documentation to ensure the construct validity and reliability of the case study data. The findings obtained indicate that parents valuing their child’s education provide for their learning and developmental needs regardless of their family structure and composition or socioeconomic background. The presence of extended family, siblings, yayas and household help were significantly influential to the quality and frequency of family literacy practices due to the scaffolding they provide the child. Also, the most common of Filipino family literacy practices across socioeconomic groups are oral storytelling and the utilization of technology.