Carol Scheffner Hammer|Megan Dunn Davison|Frank Lawrence|Adele W. Miccio
The Effect of Maternal Language on Bilingual Children's Vocabulary and Emergent Literacy Development During Head Start and Kindergarten
Pennsylvania State University|Temple College|Temple University|Pennsylvania State University|Pennsylvania State University
investigation examined impact maternal language childrens gender bilingual childrens vocabulary emergent literacy development 2 years head start kindergarten seventytwo mothers children attended english immersion programs participated questionnaires administered annually 3year period revealed mothers increased usage english children addition mothers sons reported using english children mothers daughters growth curve modeling indicated increased usage english impact childrens english vocabulary emergent literacy development however increased usage english slowed growth childrens spanish vocabulary despite differences mothertochild language usage gender impact growth either language findings provide evidence maternal usage spanish negatively affect childrens developing english vocabulary emergent literacy abilities maternal usage spanish appears necessary maximize childrens developing spanish vocabulary