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Measuring Response to Early Literacy Intervention With Preschoolers at Risk

Education Research and Consulting, Fairhope, Alabama, amandavande{at}gmail.com.

Patricia A. Snyder

University of Florida, Gainesville

Carmen Broussard

Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana

Kerrie Ramsdell

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans

Response to intervention (RTI) is characterized as a logical science of decision making that has applicability for early childhood, particularly in the context of multitiered intervention models. This study examined the utility of using curriculum-based early literacy measures as screening tools and for evaluating whether growth in early literacy skills was altered following brief interventions. Thirty-five preschool-age children at risk for learning difficulties participated in a 5-week intervention focused on key phonemic awareness skills delivered in classwide and individual formats. Curriculum-based measurement probes were administered each week to all children. Results showed the curriculum-based measures led to enhanced decision accuracy about children at risk for learning difficulties, particularly when combined with brief classwide interventions designed to systematically address opportunities to learn. For children who were initially low performers, weekly progress monitoring combined with classwide early literacy interventions appeared to be related to accelerated growth toward early literacy targets. Implications for the expansion of RTI decision-making frameworks in early childhood are discussed.

Key Words: response to intervention • early literacy • progress monitoring • data-based decision making

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Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, Vol. 27, No. 4, 232-249 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0271121407311240


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by VanDerHeyden, A. M. Articles by Ramsdell, K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?