The Effects of Single Parenting on the Literacy Achievement of African-American students

1. The Effects of Single Parenting on the Literacy Achievement of African-American students By Stephanie Bryant

2. Table of Contents • Introduction 1 • Statement of the Problem 2 • Review of the Literature 3 • Statement of the Hypothesis 10

3. Introduction • With the every changing American family structure, there is a vast increase in the number of single parent households. This change can be accredited to either the increase in divorces rates among American families, parents deciding against marriage for various reasons or an increase in teenage pregnancies. Single parent households are especially prevalent in the African-American community.

4. Statement of the Problem • Children from single parent households are faced with extra burdens that children from two-parent households do not have to face. In an effort to alleviate the stresses of these children, adjustments need to be made so that they are on a level-playing field academically with their counterparts.

5. Review of Related Literature • Single Parent Households Do Affect Student Achievement • Numerous studies have been conducted on parental involvement in the single parent household and these studies have found that parents who are involved in their student’s academic career help to increase the student’s academic achievement. Zellman, G.L., & Waterman, J.M. (1998); Hawes,C.A., & Plourde, L.A. (2000); Senechal, M., & LeFevre, J. (2002, March-April) ; Ricciuth, H.N. (2004, March/April) ; England, M.M., Luckner, A.E., Whaley, G.J.L. & Egeland, B. (2004); Amato, P. (2005); Driessen, G., Smit, F. & Sleegers, P. (2005, August); Jeynes, W.H. (2005, Summer) ; Houtenville, A.J. & Conway, K.S. (2008); Yongm, & Yuanzhang (2008)

6. Review of Literature cont’d • Single Parent Households Do Not Affect Student Achievement • In contrast, there are some studies which indicate that single parent households do not play a role in student’s academic achievement, but other factors such as student’s motivational level play a role on student’s academic achievement. • Dominia, T. (2005, July); Debell,M. (2008)

7. Current Educational Strategies • There are some strategies being implemented in schools to help single parent households increase the academic achievement of their children. These include: • Training parents on how to conduct reading instruction at home so that it can increase the student’s reading achievement. Faires, J., Nichols, W.D., & Ricklman, R.J. (2000).

8. Current Education Strategies cont’d • Having teachers implement strategies such as maintaining a positive relationship with parents and having active parents spread the word to other parents to alleviate the educational barrier that African-American parents when dealing with their child’s teacher. Trotman, M.F. (2001, Autumn) • Implementing strategies that exhibit themes of empowerment, outreach, and indigenous resources. These can help to improve their child’s academic achievement overall, but especially in literacy.Abdul-Adil J.K., & Farmer Jr., A.D. (2006)

9. Parental Involvement Theorist • Epstein • Six types of Parental Involvement • Keith • Examined effects of Parental Involvement on High School students • Christenson • Parental Involvement affects boys and girls differently

10. Statement of Hypothesis • Over a six week period, by implementing shared reading with twenty-five African-American third grade students from single parent households, students at P.S. X will increase their reading and writing achievement.