Promoting early literacy through the professional development of preschool teachers |
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| Authors: | Cristianne Lane Mary Jo Surges Prokop Blanche Podhajski Jane Nathan |
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| Institution: | 1. Lee Pesky Learning Center, Boise, ID, USA.;2. Stern Center for Language and Literacy, Williston, VT, USA. |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a professional learning program on the emergent literacy skills of preschool children. Building Blocks for Literacy® is a program consisting of training supported by mentoring designed to teach early childcare providers how to promote the development of early literacy skills. A previous investigation found positive effects of the program on the pre-literacy skills of children in Vermont. The current study extended their work by replicating the training for Head Start teachers (n?=?27) in another state. Teachers were divided into three groups. One group received the training and live mentoring; a second group received training and distance mentoring; and a third group of teachers served as controls. The results indicate that children (n?=?97) served by teachers who received the training (n?=?18) made higher gains on a measure of early literacy skills than those children (n?=?36) served by control teachers. The gains made by children in the treatment groups were consistent for teachers who received either live or distance mentoring. Implications for practice are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | early literacy professional development head start |
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