| A study was conducted to describe the effects of an instructional literature intervention on the language and literacy development of 23 second-grade children. Informal assessments focused on children's oral language skills. The intervention included language and literacy experiences from rhymes, riddles, songs, storytelling, folktales, fairytales, poetry, and theme-related literature. Parents of the children completed pre- and post-treatment questionnaires about literacy practices found in children's homes. Results of the study suggested that children's language and literacy development was furthered and enriched by exposure to rich and varied literature selections. Data from assessments suggested that children from "disadvantaged" home backgrounds (defined as lacking rich language and literacy experiences), made even greater gains in language and literacy development than children whose home literacy experiences were already enriched. This suggested that school and parent education literacy intervention programs are important to further develop and support children's language skills and ensure success in school. |
