Perceptions Of Five Low-Income Parents On School Readiness

<p>This small-scale qualitative study explored the perceptions of five low-income mothers regarding their child's readiness for kindergarten. The study has the potential to help early childhood advocates and other stakeholders (a) understand how low-income environments influence school readiness, (b) understand the aspirations low-income parents have for their children, (c) discover ways to improve the transition to school for economically disadvantaged children, and (d) engage parents in a more equitable manner--ultimately helping all children start kindergarten with success.</p> <p>Parents selected for this study had a child age 4-5 who was the oldest child in the family, on a Head Start waiting list, and eligible to start kindergarten. Parents participated in a two-phase individual interview process. Each phase of interviews involved the participants responding to a predetermined list of six questions related to school readiness. The second phase involved participants reviewing a kindergarten assessment and talking about how they developed the skills and knowledge with their own child.</p> <p>Emerging theory from this research reflects the differences between parents' perceptions and the schools' views regarding school readiness. The theory supports a new definition of kindergarten readiness comprised of ready schools, ready parents, and ready children. The new definition has the potential to be recognized by early childhood advocates at a local, state, and national level and serve as a resource to clarify the meaning of kindergarten readiness, thereby enhancing early childhood programs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership

Year

2011

Author dc:creator

• Malm, Roanne Eugenia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pauline Stonehouse

• early childhood
• kindergarten
• learning gap
• low-income
• parents' perceptions
• school readiness
• Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.und.edu/theses/1195

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.und.edu:theses-2196