Professional Literature Summary Template

Article #1

Bib. Information (APA Boyce, L. (2014, September). Family Bookmaking: Creating Links Between Home and
Formatting): Early Childhood Programs. Young Children, pp. 53-55.

Author(s) Affiliation: Lisa Boyce is an assistant professor at Utah State University in the Department of
Family, Consumer and Human Development. She is also the executive director of the
Dolores Dore Eccles Center for Early Care and Education.
Type of Resource: This is a trade article intended to inform teachers and educators daily practice
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential Family bookmaking engages families with meaningful and authentic literature
information: experiences for both the school and home settings.
The books are based on conversations and shared activities between parents
and their children.
Booking making for children and families can provide social/emotional
support, make school-home connections, support language development and
provide meaningful literary experiences
Way in which this This article influences the field of parental involvement/early education by providing a
source influences the proven example of an activity that has a positive influence on a childs early education
field related to your outcomes by parents/teachers connecting home and school
inquiry (ex. Math
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is related to my topic of parent involvement in early education in that it
your research topic and shows an example of how parents can be actively involved in their childrens early
study: education and how early education can flow between school and home settings.
Stage of action research Design-This article provides an example of an activity that can be done in both my
where the source will infant/toddler and preschool settings.
be used: Findings/Conclusions-This article could support my theory that increased parental
involvement will benefit the children in multiple ways
 Article #2

Bib. Information (APA Nitecki, E. (2015). Intergrated School-Family Partnerships in Preschool: Building
Formatting): Quality Involvement Through Multidimensional Relationships. School Community
Journal , 195-219.

Author(s) Affiliation: Elena Nitecki is an Associate Professor at Mercy College in the Department of Early
Childhood and Childhood Education. She has higher education teaching experience in
the fields of Early Childhood Education and Social Work
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article that presents a research study
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article shows the connection between meaningful school-family relationships and
information: its importance in the foundation of a childs education. This study found that there are
three important pieces that build strong school-family partnerships.
1. Applying Epsteins framework for school-family-community partnerships
2. Creating welcoming environments
3. Enhancing what parents know about preschool education and the importance
of their role in their childs learning.
Way in which this This article influences the field of parental involvement/early education by providing a
source influences the study that examines the correlation between strong school-family partnerships and
field related to your child achievement during early education.
inquiry (ex. Math
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This study is relevant to my topic of parent involvement in early education in that it
your research topic and focuses on how meaningful school-family relationships can be facilitated by early
study: learning professionals.
Stage of action research Background-This study will build on my understanding of the connection between
where the source will meaningful school-family relationships and early learning outcomes in all areas of
be used: development.
Data Collection/Analysis Methodology-This study will help me decide on what
methods I will use to collect data during my own study.
Findings/Conclusions- This study could support my theory that increased parental
involvement will benefit the children in many areas of development.

Article #3

Bib. Information (APA Weiss, H., Caspe, M., & Lopez, M. E. (2006). Family Involvement in Early Education.
Formatting): Harvard Family Research Project .

Author(s) Affiliation: Dr. Heather Weiss is the Founder and Director of the Harvard Family Research Project
(HFRP) and is a Senior Research Associate and Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate
School of Education.
Margaret Caspe is a Senior Research Analyst at HFRP, where she has been working in
various capacities since 2000. Her research focuses on how families, early childhood
programs, schools and communities support childrens learning.
M. Elena Lopez is an Associate Director at Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP),
where she has been part of the team since 1990. Her research focuses on the
relationships between families, schools and communities as they relate to childrens
 development and education. Additionally, she is a cofounder of the Family
Involvement Network of Educators (FINE).
The information regarding the authors affiliations can be found at
http://www.hfrp.org/about-hfrp/staff

Type of Resource: This brief is a scholarly article that presents a research study
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This brief discusses the research that supports family involvement in early education
information: and the positive results that occur for children. The information is broken down into
the following topics
Family Involvement Process in Early Childhood
Family Involvement Matters for Young Childrens Development
Parenting in Early Childhood
Home-School Relations
Responsibility for Learning Outcomes
Implications for policy, practice & research
Way in which this This article shows that family in early education is a predictor of a childs academic
source influences the and social development as he or she progresses from early childhood programs through
field related to your K-12 and on to higher education
inquiry (ex. Math
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research as it provides evidence that family involvement
your research topic and in early education has a positive effect on child outcomes in all areas of development.
study: It also provides examples of how early learning professionals can make meaningful
connections with families and vice versa.

Stage of action research Background-This article builds on my understanding of the importance of meaningful
where the source will school-family connections.
be used: Design-This article is helping form the research question.
Findings/Conclusions-This article will support my belief that children do better in
school when parents are actively involved in their early education.

Article #4

Bib. Information (APA Couchenour, D and Chrisman, K. (2104). Families, Schools and Communities:
Formatting): Together for Young Children. Belmont, CA.
Author(s) Affiliation: The authors of this text are affiliated with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
They have both been professors of Early Education for Shippensburg University.
Type of Resource: This is a collegiate text. Several sections of this text are devoted to parental
(Scholarly /Trade/Other) involvement/interaction in early education.
Summary of essential Parts of this text discuss the importance of a family-based philosophy in early
information: education and how teachers can support children and their families in the early learning
environment. A center that holds a family based philosophy understands that parents
 are their childrens first teachers, that parents can and should spend time in the
classroom and that communication with parents is vital for early learning success.
Way in which this This text is related to my topic of parent involvement in early education in that it
source influences the provides a variety of suggestions on how, when, where and why parents can be
field related to your involved in their childrens early education. Many of the suggestions come directly
inquiry (ex. Math from NAEYC for best practice and Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This text is relevant to parental involvement because it describes both the role of the
your research topic and teacher and the parent in early education, providing teachers with tips and techniques
study: for making relevant connections to children and their families

Stage of action research Background-This text builds on my understanding of parent involvement in early
where the source will education and the role the teacher plays in supporting parental involvement.
be used: Findings/Conclusions-This text would support my hypothesis that parental
involvement will have positive outcomes for their children in the early learning setting.
Implications/Action Planning-This text provides practical intervention ideas on how
to engage parents and provide teachers with tools for working with parents.

Article #5

Bib. Information (APA Clarkin-Philips, J. and Carr, M. (2012). An affordance network for engagement:
Formatting): Increasing parent and Family agency in early childhood settings. European Early
Childhood Education Research Journal.
Author(s) Affiliation: The authors oar from the Department of Professional Studies, Faculty of Education at
the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand
Type of Resource: This is a research article that focused on the United Kingdom model of early education
(Scholarly /Trade/Other) that integrates early education services for children and families.
Summary of essential The researchers of this article found that for families to be actively engaged in their
information: childrens early education that the opportunities provided must accessible, inviting and
personal. It also concludes that parents who were from a marginalized community or
unable to contribute to their childs early education had been empowered when
provided with opportunities to enhance their own well-being, thereby having a positive
effect on their children.
Way in which this This article influences the field of parental involvement in early education by
source influences the describing why some parents are not engaged in their childrens early education and
field related to your how teachers, administrators and others in the early education field can begin building
inquiry (ex. Math networks to provide resources for parents, children and families.
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to the topic of parental involvement in early education in that it
your research topic and describes factors that often prevent parental engagement and how services can be
study: integrated to better serve the needs of parents so that they can be more able participants
in their childrens early education.

Stage of action research List all stages of the action research process where this source will be used and
where the source will briefly describe how it has informed your work.
be used:
 Background-This article has helped to better understand some of the reasons why
parents are not involved in their childrens early education and the role teachers,
administrators and other service providers play in making engagement opportunities
available, inviting and personal.
Design-This article has helped develop interventions that are inviting and personal for
the families involved in this study.
.

Article #6

Bib. Information (APA Morrison, J.W., Storey, P. and Zhang, C. (2011). Accessible Family Involvement in
Formatting): Early Childhood Programs. Dimensions of Early Childhood, Vol. 39, #3
Author(s) Affiliation: J. Morrison is a professor of early education at the Mississippi State University. P.
Storey is a Child Development Laboratory Instructor at the University of Missouri,
Columbia, having taught preschool for more than 25 years and conducting research on
family involvement in early education. C. Zhang is affiliated with Perdue University.
He has also conducted research on family involvement in early childhood education.
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in an educational trade periodical.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article describes that various benefits to children, parents and teachers/schools
information: when parents are involved in early education and there are strong relationships
between families and early childhood education programs. While it discusses the
benefits of family involvement it also describes the challenges that can occur when
families do not feel engaged or connected to their childs school
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes ways in
source influences the which early childhood programs can make their activities engaging and accessible for
field related to your families. It includes the components of Epsteins framework for Family Involvement.
inquiry (ex. Math
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because it supports my belief that the children in
your research topic and my program will benefit greatly when their parents are more actively involved in their
study: early education. Parent participation in early education enhances a childs cognitive,
social and emotional development. When parents are involved in their childrens early
education school and home become connected, strengthening relationships.

Stage of action research Design- This article has provided some practical ideas for connecting school and
where the source will home.
be used: Findings/Conclusions- it supports my belief that the children in my program will
benefit greatly when their parents are more actively involved in their early education.
 Article #7

Bib. Information (APA Knopf, H. T., & Swick, K. J. (2008). Using Our Understanding of Families to Strengthen
Formatting): Family Involvement. Early Childhood Education Journal, 35(5), 419-427.
doi:10.1007/s10643-007-0198-z
Author(s) Affiliation: The authors of this article are affiliated with the University of South Carolinas College
of Education, Department of Instruction and Teacher Education.
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in an academic journal.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article describes how teachers can be more responsive to the changing needs of
information: families by establishing relationships that encourage family participation in early
childhood education.
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes how
source influences the families have changed, what family involvement looks like now and provides
field related to your strategies teachers can use to learn about familys strengths and needs, thereby
inquiry (ex. Math enhancing school-family relationships
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because it supports some of my research
your research topic and findings. Families have changed and will continue to change as society changes.
study: Therefore, administrators and teachers must look for what works in getting families
involved in their childrens early education.

Stage of action research Findings/Conclusions-This article supports my findings, that families need meaningful
where the source will partnerships with both administrators and teachers in their childrens early learning
be used: programs and in many situations, it is up to the Early Education Professionals to
build, encourage and support those relationships.
Implications/Action Planning-This article supports my plan to continue to build
strong relationships with the families at my center by providing meaningful
interactions and activities for parents, their children and their extended families.
 Article #8

Bib. Information (APA Bruckman, M., & Blanton, P. W. (2003). Welfare-to-Work Single Mothers'
Formatting): Perspectives on Parent Involvement in Head Start: Implications for Parent-Teacher
Collaboration. Early Childhood Education Journal, 30(3), 145-150
Author(s) Affiliation: M. Bruckman is affiliated with the School of Family, Consumer and Nutritional
Sciences at Northern Illinois University. P. Blanton is affiliated with the Department of
Child & Family Studies at the University of Tennessee
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in academic journal.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article provides the single mothers perspective on choosing early care and
information: education programs for their children and describes the parent involvement
components of the Head Start program.
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes ways in
source influences the which teachers can develop productive partnerships with low-income, single parents
field related to your (the population served in this research study) and what these parents are looking for in
inquiry (ex. Math early care and education programs for their children and themselves.
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because it supports my belief that parents are
your research topic and their childrens first teachers and that Early Learning Professionals must find and
study: foster ways for parents to actively take on that role.

Stage of action research List all stages of the action research process where this source will be used and
where the source will briefly describe how it has informed your work.
be used: Findings/Conclusions-This article supports what I have found about the role the early
learning professional plays in developing collaborative relationships with parents that
support their role as a teacher of their children,
Implications/Action Planning-This article also supports my plan to continue to seek
opportunities to build collaborative relationships with the parents at my center and
find ways to involve them in their childrens early education.
 Article #9

Bib. Information (APA Schoenberg Muccio, L. l., Kuwahara-Fujita, R. r., & Otsuji, J. Y. (2014). 'Ohana Math:
Formatting): Family Engagement to Promote Mathematical Learning for Hawai'i's Young Children.
(cover story). YC: Young Children, 69(4), 24-30
Author(s) Affiliation: Leah Schoenberg Muccio is an assistant professor of early childhood education at the
University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her work focuses on early childhood curriculum,
inclusion and teacher education. Rheta Kuwahara-Fujita is an instructor of early
childhood education at Honolulu Community College. She has worked in the field of
ECE for over 20 years, teaching young children and coaching preschool and
elementary teachers of Native Hawaiian children. Johanna Otsuji is the lead teacher
for a 4-year-old class at Sunshine School in Kailua, Hawaii. At the writing of this
article, she was pursuing her Med in ECE at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in an academic journal.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article describes the Ohana Math program, built to strengthen the home-school
information: connection and how parents can help their childrens mathematical learning through
playful and familiar activities. It emphasizes the important role that parents play in
their childrens learning.
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes how the
source influences the family-school partnership should work and what happens when schools help parents
field related to your understand the important role they play in their childrens early learning.
inquiry (ex. Math
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because it provides insight as to what happens
your research topic and when schools emphasize the important role parents play in their childrens early
study: learning.

Stage of action research Implications/Action Planning-this article will support my plan to continue sending
where the source will home developmentally appropriate activities for parents to work on with their
be used: preschoolers.
 Article #10

Bib. Information (APA Unger, D. G., Tressell, P. A., & Jones, C. W. (2004). Involvement of Low-Income Single
Formatting): Caregivers in Child-Focused Early Intervention Services: Implications for Caregiver-
Child Interaction. Family Relations, 53(2), 210-218
Author(s) Affiliation: The authors of this study were funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau,
HRSA, PHS. DHHS. Grant MCJ 420598-04. Dr. Unger is affiliated with the
University of Delaware, Department of Individual and Family Studies.
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in an academic journal.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article describes a study conducted involving low-income, single parents and their
information: children enrolled in early intervention programs. The focus of the study was to
discover what would happen when parents were provided opportunities to be involved
in their childrens early intervention program. The results showed that parents who
were more involved with their childrens early learning programs were more likely to
be emotionally and verbally responsive in their interactions with their children.
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes not only
source influences the parent involvement, but the involvement of low-income, single parents in early
field related to your education. It explains some of the challenges and barriers parents in this demographic
inquiry (ex. Math face when being involved with their childrens early education and provides some
teaching/learning recommendations for ECE professionals on how to enhance their programs to help
elementary) these parents be more involved.
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because it provides answers to what I have been
your research topic and finding during my research.
study:
Stage of action research Background-This study provides background for my research on parent involvement
where the source will in a setting much like the center in my study.
be used: Data Collection/Analysis Methodology-This study supports how I have begun to
analyze the data I have collected.
Findings/Conclusions-This study supports my findings that low-income, single parents
are willing to be involved in their childrens early education but there are barriers and
challenges that they face to be actively involved. Further, early childhood
professionals can have a positive effect on children and family outcomes when they
build quality, supportive relationships with parents.
 Article #11

Bib. Information (APA Carter, L. l. (2016). The Reflection Connection: Teachers in Touch with Families.
Formatting): Exchange (19460406), (228), 52-55.
Author(s) Affiliation: Leslie Carter, recently retired, was an assistant director for community college and
university campus children's programs. She holds a BA in Sociology, MA in Human
Development from Pacific Oaks College
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in an academic journal.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential The article discusses the important role that teachers and administrators have in early
information: childhood programs to build relationships with families. It provides a guide for training
teachers to work with families by developing empathy and understanding for the
families they serve.
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes how
source influences the teachers and administrators play a key role in developing relationships with the
field related to your families they serve.
inquiry (ex. Math
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because it provides insight as to what happens
your research topic and when schools emphasize the important role teachers and administrators play in
study: developing high-quality relationships with families.

Stage of action research Implications/Action Planning-This supports my plan to continue to find ways to build
where the source will quality relationships among families and teachers and administrators at my center.
be used: One way I can do this is by providing Professional Development for my staff on
developing empathy and understanding for the families we serve.
 Article #12

Bib. Information (APA Ansari, A., & Gershoff, E. (2016). Parent Involvement in Head Start and Children's
Formatting): Development: Indirect Effects Through Parenting. Journal of Marriage & Family, 78(2),
562-579. doi:10.1111/jomf.12266
Author(s) Affiliation: The authors of this study are affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin,
Department of Human Development and Family Sciences.
Type of Resource: This is a scholarly article in an academic journal.
(Scholarly /Trade/Other)
Summary of essential This article examines how parent involvement in Head Start programs can predicted
information: changes in both parent and child outcomes over time. Policies at individual centers
that promoted involvement had greater parent involvement, and parents who were
more involved in Head Start centers demonstrated increased learning and parenting
skills. By changing parenting behaviors, children's academic and behavioral skills
increased.
Way in which this This article is related to the field of parental involvement in that it describes the best
source influences the practices put in place by Head Start for parent involvement in early learning and how
field related to your those practices influence the academic, social and emotional outcomes of both children
inquiry (ex. Math and their parents.
teaching/learning
elementary)
Potential relevance to This article is relevant to my research because its findings suggest that early learning
your research topic and programs should do more to facilitate parent involvement because it can serve as an
study: important means for promoting both parent and child outcomes.

Stage of action research List all stages of the action research process where this source will be used and
where the source will briefly describe how it has informed your work.
be used: Background-This article builds my understanding on the practices put in place by
Head Start for parent involvement.
Findings/Conclusions-This article supports my findings that parents do not
participate in their childrens early education because there are obstacles, such as
work and school schedules, that prevent them from taking part in the activities at the
early learning center.
Implications/Action Planning-This supports my plan to incorporate more after school
activities, either at the center or individually at home, for parents to participate in with
their children.