When you think about what you learned in preschool, does anything come to mind? You probably remember nap time and snacks… but what did you learn?

Perhaps not too surprising, the Perry Preschool Experiment has found that any intellect gained through preschool attendance has no long-lasting benefits on its participants.

However, the experiment also found that in comparison to adults that did not attend preschool, adults that attended preschool were:

• 20% more likely to have graduated from high school
• 19% less likely to have been arrested more than 5 times
• better students and earned higher grades throughout their schooling
• more likely to remain married
• less dependent on welfare programs

Since they found no lasting intellectual benefits of preschool, what is it about preschool that created these positive outcomes for its attendees? 

The reason preschool goers have been found to generally have more stable lifestyles is because preschool has now been found to boost “non-cognitive” abilities such as self-control and persistence in its attendees. Both of these skills play a large role in an individual’s life.

In fact, these “non-cognitive” abilities are arguably more valuable than intellect. The researchers pointed out that employers have been found to value dependability more than any other trait. They also note that it has been found that “perseverance, dependability and consistency are the most important predictors of grades in school.”

I remember being frustrated when I was applying for college because my test scores were weighed more heavily than my grades. I felt my grades represented my strong work ethic and that was more likely to earn me success than natural intelligence. Yet, I knew a few of my peers that never did their homework and refused to make an effort in class, but that had such high natural intelligence that they were offered scholarships based solely on their high test scores. All of them have since dropped out of college, or never ended up going.

This point is reinforced by the finding referenced in the Perry Preschool Experiemnt that high school dropouts who earn their GED usually earn the same amount as their fellow dropouts who did not earn their GED. Why is this? Because students that drop out of high school often lack the discipline and dependability needed to find success in life.

Intelligence and learning does nothing for the world without being paired with “non-cognitive” abilities such as self control and perseverance. A genius that never works to express his genius can never add value to the world.

Without being paired with “non-cognitive” abilities, literacy skills can offer little value. Effort must be exerted to use the knowledge we gain through reading different books and resources to make the ability worthwhile.

Currently, preschools are experiencing several budget cuts and the value of preschool is being debated. What are your thoughts?

P.S.

If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy: "3 Ways Literacy Can Improve Society"

Play Lemons for Literacy to increase your vocabulary and help individuals earn literacy materials:

According to a recent report from the Annie E. Casey foundation, 68% of America’s 4th graders read below grade level last school year. The necessity of literacy skills in today’s society makes this statistic troublesome. Reading skills strongly impact students’ academic success as well as their emotional and social well-being. Poor reading skills impact students in the following ways:

1. Academically

Because reading skills are easily the most necessary skill for academic success, students that do not read at grade level will undoubtedly struggle in school. This is especially true for students after the 3rd grade. In 4th grade, teachers’ spend significantly less time helping students learn to read, and the curriculum shifts in that students must use their reading skills to stay caught up in almost every subject. For this reason reading skills must be at grade level in 4th grade- if not students’ begin to fall behind in almost every subject, not just language arts.

2. Emotionally

Poor reading skills also impact students emotionally by negatively influencing their self esteem. Struggling with a skill that many of their peers pick up naturally makes many students feel incapable and unintelligent. This is unfortunate because reading problems are rarely a result of the student’s personal effort. On average, 70% of students will learn to read regardless of instruction; however, 30% of students require an explicit, step-by-step approach to succeed with reading. This type of instruction is needed for 30% of students is because of the prevalence of language processing disorders (such as dyslexia, specific language impairment, and auditory processing disorder).

Because 70% of students should learn to read regardless of instruction, it is startling that 68% of 4th grade students are not reading at grade level. Only 30% of these students should be struggling. This exposes that there is a weakness in reading instruction. There is a clear need for teachers to improve the way they teach reading. Especially since ineffective instruction can easily hurt a student’s self-esteem by leaving them with a feeling of inadequacy.

3. Socially

Poor reading skills also impact students socially. A common finding in sociology and psychology is that students naturally become friends with peers that are similar to them in academic standing. In correlation, academic success is often tied to involvement in other positive activities and a sharp decline in truancy, drug use, and other types of experimentation.

When students are not provided with the proper instruction needed to obtain effective reading skills, it is difficult for them to make friends with peers that encourage them to make positive life decisions.

The Value of Literacy Skills

It is amazing how large of an impact reading skills play in the academic, social and emotional well-being of every individual. Those who naturally develop reading skills do not often realize the positive impact these skills play in their life. However, when we look at the risks of students who do not successfully develop reading skills, the importance of literacy and what it adds to your life becomes very obvious.

To ensure your students can enjoy a lifetime of learning and success through effective reading skills, learn more about Reading Horizons reading program for building a solid reading foundation for a future of reading success!

Usually I focus on literacy skills being beneficial on an individual level. Enhancing one’s psychological well-being and the knowledge one can gain from being able to read. However lately I continue to find articles about the benefits of literacy on the societal level, rather than the individual level. The benefits are almost intuitive, but the articles have changed the focus of my thoughts about literacy. Here are three societal benefits of improving literacy:

1. Improves the Safety of Society

The other day there was a really good article about how literacy can lower the crime rate; this statistic clearly reveals how literacy can make society a safer place to live:

“Up to 80% of incarcerated individuals are functionally illiterate; studies show that if a child reads on grade level by the end of 3rd grade, there is a 99% certainty that child will never be incarcerated; school performance, more than any other single factor, is a major contributor as to whether a youth becomes involved in drugs or violence.”

Source: http://www.good.is/post/preventing-violence-by-teaching-literacy/

2. Improves Education Success

Education success is very dependent on reading abilities. This quote from the Warren Bolton emphasizes how important reading skills are for education success:

“Today in America, more than 11 million children 5 years old and younger are living in poverty. Millions of these children will arrive at their first day of kindergarten bright, eager and happy — but with deficits in their reading readiness that leave them underprepared to read and learn along with classmates sitting in the chairs beside them… Sadly, starting one step behind decreases the likelihood that those smiling, eager children will ever catch up. Despite the billions of dollars Americans have invested in reading recovery programs, those children are at increased risk for absenteeism, dropping out, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.”

Source: http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/10/1324942/bolton-reading-expands-childrens.html

3. Improves the Standard of Living

In accordance with the previous two points, literacy can help improve the standard of living, as exposed in this statistic:

Only 50% of low-income 4th graders read at or above the basic level according to the Department of Education’s 2007 Nation’s Report Card.

Source: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/launch_a_national_read_to_kids_campaign

Help society improve its overall literacy rate by playing Lemons for Literacy to help organizations and individuals earn an effective literacy program:

Because of my experiences with Reading Horizons, I frequently think about the value of literacy skills in my own life. I think about what my life would be like if I couldn’t read and write. I think about the things I would miss and the things I couldn’t accomplish without the ability to read and write.

Without literacy skills I could not do my job. I would lose a lot of communication with the people that could use our reading program to help others improve their literacy skills.

Also without literacy skills I wouldn’t be able to do the things I most enjoy. Two of my favorite things to do are to read books and write in my journal. The enjoyment I find in my life outside of work would decline without my literacy skills.

I would lose a lot without having literacy skills. However, through much thought I have decided the thing I value above all else in regards to literacy is the ability to learn more. Every time I find a new interest or desire to improve one of my abilities, I always start by reading an article or book on the topic. Imagining a life where I couldn’t learn more about the things I’m interested in sounds paralyzing.

With the internet, libraries and book stores there is so much information that is almost instantly available. However, without literacy skills, the ability to teach yourself almost anything you desire vanishes. Realizing that over the past few months has greatly increased my gratitude for the ability I possess to read and write.

As I learn about the people our company interacts with daily that do not get to enjoy the benefits of literacy skills, my gratitude grows. But not only have I learned to appreciate the ability to read and write through working for Reading Horizons, I also have learned that there is so much that can be done to help these individuals that want to improve their literacy skills.

One way Reading Horizons works to increase the literacy skills of individuals is through sponsoring its charitable program: Lemons for Literacy. This program uses an online vocabulary game to sponsor individuals and organizations with literacy materials. The more people play the vocabulary game, the more people will be provided with the materials that can help them improve their literacy skills.

Play Lemons for Literacy to engage in fun, charity, and learning! --> Lemons for Literacy Vocabulary Game

For decades one of the largest debates in Psychology has centered around Nature vs. Nurture and the effect each plays in development. Recently, a study conducted by Florida State University took this debate into the classroom to see the effects of Nature vs. Nurture in terms of literacy development.

Research Design

By assigning 280 pairs of identical twins and 526 pairs of fraternal twins to separate classrooms, the researchers were able to discover the impact the classroom environment played in students reading progress. Using identical twins, who would develop very similarly left entirely to Nature, allows researchers to see the impact Nurture (the teacher and classroom environment) plays on literacy development. To test these differences the researchers assigned the identical twins to classrooms with teachers who had received significantly different quality scores.

Study Results

Of the 280 identical twin pairs studied, 42 pairs revealed significant differences in reading development at the completion of the one year study. Twins with teachers that had similar quality scores had similar reading scores at the end of the year. The students that showed the largest reading improvement over the year were the students of the teachers that were rated with the highest quality scores at the beginning of the study.

Study Conclusions

Researchers were careful to clarify that teachers are not the sole purpose for reading differences between the twins in different classrooms. Tim Shanahan, Professor at the University of Illinois explained: “The word teacher or teacher quality is being used here as a shorthand for the kids’ entire experience in the classroom.”

There are several factors that could impact the difference in the performance of the identical twins in separate classrooms: disruptive students, teacher materials, the number of struggling students in the class, ect…

Shanahan also said: “Good classrooms are all alike; they maximize kids’ potential. Poor classrooms are not only poor in one way; they are poor in multiple ways.” Shanahan also asserted that teacher and classroom disparities can change with the right resources and training.

Resources:

“Better Teachers Make for Stronger Young Readers”

“Study: Better teachers help children read faster”

“Study: After genes, teachers help kids read faster”

Reading Horizons works to help teachers erase these disparities by providing Professional Development and materials to promote student reading. For more information visit: www.ReadingHorizons.com