The Unique Contribution of Home Literacy Environment to Differences in Early Literacy Skills¹

TLDR

The study evaluates a home literacy environment measure and its unique predictive power for early literacy skills. The measure was based on parent reports of home reading resources and activities, and 295 kindergarteners were assessed on language, reading, knowledge, and math in fall and spring. The scale uniquely predicts language‑based literacy in kindergarten and second grade, but not number‑based skills, demonstrating strong psychometric validity.

Abstract

The psychometric utility of a home literacy environment measure is evaluated and its unique contribution to predicting literacy skills is examined. The scale is derived from information provided by parents of kindergarten children about the amount of reading materials in the home, and the frequency of library visits, adult literacy‐related behaviors, adult‐child reading, and television viewing. Measures of language, reading, general knowledge and math were collected from 295 children in fall of kindergarten and spring of second grade. The home literacy environment scale predicts unique variance in kindergarten and second grade language‐based, but not number‐based, literacy skills. Hence, the simple and easily administered measure of the home literacy environment proves to be psychometrically strong and uniquely predictive of differences in early literacy skills.