Developing low-income children's vocabulary and content knowledge through a shared book reading program

This study examines the effects of a shared book intervention designed to improve low-income children's oral language vocabulary and content knowledge in science. Classrooms (preK-through grade 1) from 12 elementary schools in a large metropolitan area were randomly selected into treatment (N = 36) and control groups (N = 34). The year-long intervention involved children in read aloud books about science topics, using cross-cutting concepts and vocabulary within taxonomic categories to build knowledge networks. Pre- and post-tests examined child outcomes in vocabulary, science concepts, language, and knowledge of the information genre. Results indicated that pre-K and kindergartners' learned significantly more words and science concepts than controls. Growth for ELL students exceeded that of native English speakers. Standardized scores in language, however, remained largely flat.