Community literacy as seen through the eyes of families

This study is a series of interviews conducted with three families participating in a family literacy program in rural NH. These families were asked a series of questions about their participation in community literacy events and supports to reach a synthesis of what families do that is inherently strong. Readings from across the literature on early childhood education, literacy and poverty and families were supported by the interviews. It is in the cross referencing that strengths were identified and weaknesses documented. Strengths were seen in friendships, storytelling, book exchanges and the use of outdoors. Weaknesses were seen in access to systems and the ability to move forward educationally. There were implicit strengths in these families and their attraction for the interviewer was in their ability to make sense of their lives