RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT: September 2023
Building a literacy environment for all children in mixed-age classrooms
A new study from Crane looks at the effects of classroom environments and age-grouping on the development of language skills. Research shows that attending high-quality preschool helps build children’s early language skills. The physical literacy environment of the classroom (e.g., books, writing supplies, ABC games) can support children’s language development. Some preschool classrooms have mixed-ages, meaning students range from 2- to 4-years old. This study sampled 895 4-year-olds from 223 classrooms. The study looked at the classroom’s physical literacy environment and the development of the 4-year old’s language skills. Results show that classrooms with a higher percentage of younger children had less book use as well as fewer writing materials and writing opportunities. The 4-year-old children in these classrooms also demonstrated smaller gains in language skills. The authors encourage creating mixed-aged classrooms with literacy opportunities for all ages and skill levels in the classroom.