PhD defence A.E. (Eke) Krijnen

The reading proficiency of Dutch pupils is declining. Differences in children’s reading abilities are visible at an early age. Therfore, many schools aim to promote children’s early literacy skills by helping parents to create rich home literacy environments for their children, with the aid of family literacy programs. Such programs need to align well with children’s families and schools. In her dissertation, Eke Krijnen aimed to increase knowledge on factors associated with the compatibility between family literacy programs and children’s homes and schools. To be able to improve the alignment between such programs and the home context of diverse families, gaining insight into the home literacy environments of these families is essential. In the first two studies of this dissertation parental preferences in stimulating children’s literacy development were investigated. Next, Krijnen analyzed whether parental preferences influence the effects of a Dutch family literacy program, Early Education at Home, on children’s emergent literacy development. To be able to improve the compatibility between a program and the school, alignment of a school’s shared vision on the parent-school relationship with program philosophy is important. Therefore, Krijnen explored how parents and staff members in a school may work together to create a shared vision on the parent-school relationship. This dissertation provides knowledge on the characteristics of families and schools important for the development and implementation of family literacy programs.

Due to corona, the PhD defences do not take place publicly in the usual way in the Senate Hall or in the Professor Andries Querido Room. The candidates will defend their dissertation either in a small group or online.