Granite Ladders: An Experimental Evaluation of an Early Literacy Curriculum for New Hampshire's Preschoolers
Project Description:
In this project, we use a randomized design to study the effects of an early literacy preschool curriculum, Ladders to Literacy, on the pre-reading skills of young children living in poverty in New Hampshire. The primary research questions are: (a) Are there differences in expressive language and early literacy outcomes between preschoolers in the experimental group and those in the control group? (b) Are there differences in outcomes for those who attend half-day vs. full-day classroom programming? (c) Are there differences in implementation of the intervention across experimental classrooms? (d) Are there differences in implementation of the intervention and outcomes between English Language Learners and English-fluent preschoolers? and (e) Are there differences in implementation of the intervention and outcomes between preschoolers with and without disabilities?
We work in collaboration with a Head Start program in the southern region of New Hampshire, where approximately 500 preschoolers attend 26 classrooms in Manchester, Nashua, and four rural towns. We have recruited a sample of 125 preschoolers within 14 classrooms to participate in this project, including children from minority groups (i.e., African-American, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino), children who speak Spanish as their primary language, and children with disabilities. All classroom teachers in this program use the Creative Curriculum to instruct children. In this study, we have randomly assigned teachers in seven classrooms to the experimental condition, in which they will adopt the preschool version of Ladders to Literacy to enhance expressive language and early literacy instruction for children in their classrooms.
Keyword(s):
early literacy, Head Start, experimental study
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Mulit-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
