Fifth Annual Grant Winners 2004-2005

Ralph E. (Gene) Cash, Ph.D., Center for Psychological Studies
Sarah Valley-Gray, Psy.D., Center for Psychological Studies
Angela Waguespack, Ph.D., Center for Psychological Studies
Kent Grelling, Ph.D., Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies
Pamela Kasyan-Itzkowitz, MS, OTR/L, CHT, HPD - College of Allied Health and Nursing

Robin Parker, Ph.D., Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
James Pann, Ph.D., Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Dana Scott Mills, Ph.D., Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services

Dean Ronald Levant, Center for Psychological Studies
Dean Wendy Masi, Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies
Dean Richard Davis, HPD – College of Allied Health and Nursing
Dean H. Wells Singleton, Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services

Title: Factors Predicting Early Reading Skills in Preschool Children

Abstract:

The present multidisciplinary, collaborative study will explore the relationship between screening data obtained early in preschool and later measures of emergent literacy. The benefits of early identification of and intervention with children who are at risk for reading difficulties is not only well-documented in the literature (e.g., Lyon, 1999) but also firmly established in federal law. This study will utilize stepwise multiple regression analyses to discover efficient, effective means for identifying preschool children from diverse backgrounds who are at risk for deficiencies in the key areas of early literacy (i.e., alliteration, rhyming, vocabulary, and phonological awareness), so that in subsequent studies interventions can be selected, employed, and evaluated for their effectiveness in preventing these deficiencies. Subjects will be approximately 200 preschool students who attend the Family Center of the Mailman-Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies and other local preschools. Screening data will be collected in late fall by faculty-supervised students from the Center for Psychological Studies (CPS), Allied Health/Occupational Therapy Department (OT), and Department of Speech and Language (S/L). Tests of early reading literacy will be administered in late spring by faculty-supervised students from CPS and the Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services (FGSE). In addition, the study will provide an important training function in the area of preschool assessment, prepare students for functioning in multidisciplinary settings, and further the knowledge base in early literacy acquisition.