The fourth and fifth presenters examine family literacy from an ecological perspective, addressing questions of cultural connections between home and school. The sixth presenter focuses on the multidimensional nature of family, specifically the kinship network, in the construction of literacy knowledge and schooling. Throughout these discussions, the moderator clarifies issues, raises questions, and encourages comments from audience participants. The complexity of the concept may keep it from every having one definition that is embraced by all. However, most would agree that several basic tenets underlie family literacy programs.
Family literacy encompasses ways parents and children use literacy at home and in their community.
Activities are created to support the acquisition and development of school-like literacy behaviors of parents, children, and parents and children together. A wide range of perspectives on family literacy are evident in the types of programs and initiatives that have been labeled or described in the professional literature. Examples of types of initiatives will be presented highlighting the theoretical basis that underlies each of them. However we have no theoretical basis for this assumption that a cultural practice such as family literacy can be shaped in such a way. In fact, cultural theory suggests that literacy behaviors implanted from outside of the totality of the culture will remain artificial and limited.