The home literacy environment and language development of a Mixteco preschool child

The purpose of this single family case study was to help a Mixteco family support their preschool child's language development by enhancing the home literacy environment (HLE) through Spanish emergent literacy activities. The case study parents were fluent in Mixteco, with limited literacy skills in Spanish. They spoke to each other in Mixteco, and to their children in Spanish. The focus child's pre and post language skills were evaluated using the Preschool Language Scale Fourth Edition Spanish, while the family's HLE was assessed through informal interviews and observation. Findings showed the family's home literacy enviroiunent evolved throughout the case study in response to internal and external family circumstances. Differences in the focus child's pre and post test communication scores are discussed. Implications for practice apply to language and literacy intervention work with a Mixteco family. Research based recommendations for establishing a literacy program that serves culturally diverse families are also provided. Key words: Mixteco language, Mixteco immigrant family, home literacy environment.