Parental Imprinting: Home-School Connections for Developing Literacy Skills in Bilingual Learners

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of parental imprinting on the development of literacy skills for bilingual learners and to emphasize the value of establishing a home literacy environment through social and cultural experiences. A total of 20 parents responded to an open-ended survey questionnaire about the relationship between the home environment and literacy skills development. A mixed methods design was utilized utilizing a parent survey questionnaire (quantitative) along with a parent interview (qualitative). For the purpose of this study, social and cultural experiences in the home comprises the following characteristics: family values, attitudes, beliefs, and traditions. The study was quantitatively and thematically analyzed and the following conclusion was reached: It is of the utmost importance for schools to have in place a strong parental support system in order to enhance the development of their bilingual learners' literary skills.