Overview
The primary purpose of this 5-year project is to develop interactive read-aloud resources for educators and caregivers that are empirically derived and improve valued outcomes related to mathematics, language, and reading. We work with educators in preschool and early-elementary settings and the caregivers of the children who receive educational services in such settings. We design interactive read-aloud materials focused on helping educators and caregivers capitalize on the rich array of early-numeracy and literacy trade books available in libraries, classroom collections, or in the home.
Outcomes
We develop easy-to-use materials that educators and caregivers can use to select appropriate books for read-alouds and integrate read-alouds into existing reading routines in school or the home.
Project Design
Purpose
Our useful materials provide detail on how educators and caregivers can (a) preview numeracy and literacy books with young children to activate background knowledge, (b) interactively read and discuss numeracy and literacy books, (c) select appropriate vocabulary and mathematical content (e.g., counting, subtraction) for in-depth exploration, and (d) continue to revisit important ideas after completing the interactive read-aloud with the child. We conduct a series of studies to pilot and investigate the efficacy of the interactive read-alouds from educator and caregiver perspectives, and we analyze the influence of the read-aloud practices on outcomes for preschool and kindergarten children. Our primary motivation for developing and testing the read-alouds is to provide educators and caregivers with an evidence-based method for increasing the numeracy and literacy outcomes for young children.
Participants
Preschool and kindergarten children and their caregivers and teachers
Background
This project draws upon the excellent work of the English Learner Institute for Teaching and Excellence (Project ELITE).