“School readiness” often gets tangled in a web of standards and divided responsibilities. So let’s simplify it. We’re rethinking school readiness by focusing on the essentials: early language skills that form the bedrock of future success.
LENA - Building brains through early talk
Webinars (3)
Kindergarten readiness and conversational turns: Study results point to a boost from LENA Start
A study out of South Carolina has found a correlation between increased conversational turns and higher scores on the state’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
Every child ready by kindergarten: A case study in one school district’s vision of early childhood
New neuroscience research shows us that the first five years of a child’s life are the most critical period for brain development. What are school districts doing to give all children an equitable start?
Blog Posts (10)
Connecting the Dots Between Early Childhood Education and Third Grade Reading
You probably know third grade reading ability is a big deal, but do you really know why? Let’s talk about it and how it’s connected to ECE!
Measuring LENA Grow’s Impact on Kindergarten Readiness
LENA Grow increases children’s kindergarten readiness assessment scores, according to data from school districts in South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Understanding Kindergarten Readiness as a Pathway to Lifelong Learning
Kindergarten readiness (sometimes called “school readiness”) means a lot of things to a lot of people … but what exactly is it?
Conversational turns linked to literacy skills: LENA participants nearly twice as likely to be kindergarten-ready
Children who participated in a LENA program were nearly two times more likely to demonstrate school readiness in language and literacy, compared to demographically matched controls.
Kindergarten readiness, parent education, and conversational turns: A statistically significant correlation in a rural South Carolina school district
A study out of Cherokee County, S.C., has found a correlation between parent participation in LENA programs and higher scores on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
Rural school districts: Challenges, opportunities, and LENA
Every rural school district has its defining features and challenges, but they all share a common opportunity: boosting early talk and getting a jump start on school readiness.
Q&A with Dr. Jim Duggan: Why school districts should prioritize early childhood
Your questions on school readiness answered by the assistant superintendent of Bourbonnais 53 school district in Illinois.
School districts use LENA programs to improve kindergarten readiness, child outcomes
School districts around the country are increasingly investing in the early years to give children an equitable start long before kindergarten.
Initial longitudinal evaluation results: Huntsville children whose parents participated in LENA Start have stronger literacy skills two years later
Promising new data show that children whose families participated in LENA Start, a parent-group program focused on increasing early talk, demonstrated considerably higher early literacy scores and were far more likely to be at an advanced literacy level entering pre-K.
School readiness team at Huntsville City Schools uses LENA Start to increase children’s kindergarten readiness
To help prepare children to succeed in kindergarten, one school district in northern Alabama launched an early language intervention to boost cognitive development in children ages 0-3.
Articles (7)
Early Learning Indiana partners with LENA for early literacy skills
Early Learning Indiana (ELI) announced a partnership with LENA, a leading nonprofit in research and programming for early language development.
Supporting Kindergarten Readiness and Early School Success in a Pandemic Year
While we're still learning about the pandemic's effects on children, it's clear that some learning setbacks have occurred. Overdeck Family Foundation writes about how parents and teachers, with help from organizations like LENA, have stepped up.
Sioux City recognized for work in supporting early school success
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has recognized Sioux City with Pacesetter Honors for its work in 2019, including using LENA Home to boost school readiness for infants and toddlers.
Impact Series: Agape’s Thrive by Five program enhances children’s conversation skills in preparation for kindergarten
A new program is helping to boost adult-child conversation in Memphis.
Language program is helping local kids get kindergarten-ready
A language program called LENA Start is helping local children get ready for success in the classroom.
New language program could increase school readiness in Spartanburg County children
A new program from the Spartanburg County Public Library and partners could help improve kindergarten readiness countywide thanks to two grants from the Mary Black Foundation and LENA.
Gift of gab: Frayser children reach for kindergarten readiness before they learn to talk
Community partners in Tennessee join forces to offer LENA Start to build community and school readiness skills.