Evidence Snapshot for Education and Civic Leaders: Prioritizing Phonological Awareness for Early Learners
Why This Matters Literacy development begins well before children learn to read Preschool is a critical period for building the foundational skills that support later reading and writing. Children who enter kindergarten with weaker literacy skills are more likely to experience continued reading difficulties. Early literacy includes interconnected skills—sound awareness, letter knowledge, oral language, vocabulary, […]
Evidence Snapshot for Educator Preparation Providers: Preparing Future Teachers for Emergent Literacy Instruction
Why This Matters Preschool educators play a critical role in building the literacy foundations children need for later reading and writing. Effective literacy instruction requires more than knowing what skills children need; educators need practical tools for how to teach those skills. The evidence points to instructional quality, including modeling, scaffolding, feedback, and consistency, as […]
Evidence Snapshot for Educators: Incorporating Phonological Awareness into Preschool Instruction
Why This Matters Preschool children are building the skills they will use to learn to read and write. Phonological awareness helps children notice and work with sounds in spoken language; connecting those sounds to letters helps prepare children for reading. Oral language and vocabulary also matter because children need language knowledge to understand what they […]
Supporting Phonological and Phonemic Awareness in Preschool: A Systematic Review of Classroom-Based Emergent Literacy Practices
Emergent literacy skills provide the foundation for children to enhance their reading development and academic success. However, many children enter kindergarten with literacy deficits which may contribute to reading difficulties as they progress through school. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence-based instructional practices and literacy domains by examining preschool classroom-based […]
Evidence Snapshot for Parents and Caregivers: Modeling Literacy Skills with Your Preschooler
Why This Matters Children begin developing literacy skills long before they can read independently. Everyday experiences with talking, listening, books, sounds, letters, and writing help prepare children for school. Children need both sound and language skills to become successful readers. Early support can help children who are having difficulty with foundational literacy skills. What the […]
Evidence Snapshot for Education and Civic Leaders: Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction for Preschool-Aged Students
Why it matters Oral language and vocabulary are foundational to reading success. Early language skills influence school readiness and later academic achievement. Vocabulary growth can be accelerated through effective instruction. Investing in early language development supports long-term literacy outcomes. What the evidence shows Explicit vocabulary instruction produces the strongest and most consistent gains. Interactive […]
Evidence Snapshot for Parents and Caregivers: Helping Your Preschooler Build Oral Language and Vocabulary
Why it matters Talking and listening skills are important building blocks for reading. Children who know more words are better prepared for school success. Everyday conversations help children learn how language works. Early vocabulary growth supports future reading comprehension. What the evidence shows Children learn new words best when adults explain and use them directly. […]
Evidence Snapshot for Educators: Building Oral Language and Vocabulary in Early Learners
Why it matters Oral language and vocabulary are the foundation for later reading and comprehension. Children with stronger vocabularies are better prepared for kindergarten literacy instruction. Early language skills support academic learning across content areas. Building vocabulary early can help prevent later reading difficulties. What the evidence shows Explicit vocabulary instruction consistently produces the strongest […]
Evidence Snapshot for Educator Preparation Providers: Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction for Preschoolers
Why it matters What the evidence shows Key preparation practices What to watch for Tips for diverse learners Multilingual learners Emphasize bilingual and home-language supports. Teach scaffolding strategies for vocabulary instruction. Highlight the value of cross-language connections. Students with disabilities Incorporate visual supports, prompting systems, and technology tools. Adapt read-alouds and language […]
Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction for Preschool-Aged Students: A Narrative Synthesis
Abstract This review provides a narrative synthesis of 36 studies reporting results of oral language and vocabulary interventions delivered to preschool-aged children. We included studies published between 2018 and 2025. The purpose of this review is to summarize study and intervention characteristics and identify instructional components associated with stronger effects on oral language and vocabulary […]
