Early Literacy

Early Literacy Research and Product Development

Literacy product research started in the mid-1990s. Working with Mary Male, Ph.D., San Jose State University, we studied and developed products to encourage reading comprehension, phonics, and writing for students who struggle. We observed student interactions with IntelliKeys® and software, and developed:

ReadyMade Story Kits: Animal Habitats, for grades preK-1

Our next effort, the Hands-on Early Literacy Project (HELP), involved a national research effort directed by Richard D. Howell, Ph.D., and associates at Ohio State University, and Karen Erickson, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Thirty-two first-grade experimental subjects with reading challenges were identified by their teachers. For comparative purposes, the study also included a criterion group of 23 general education first graders.

Pre-and post-testing was conducted on onsets, rimes, word identification, phonemic awareness, and word generation. After four months of usage, 30 minutes per day, the experimental group displayed amazing "catch-up" and generally reached or exceeded the criterion group's starting point.

Based upon the findings from these studies, we completed and published two award-winning programs:

Balanced Literacy for grades K-2