Infant/Toddler

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT: Using technology to measure child-directed speech

New research employed machine learning to develop, validate, and test an automatized system in order to identify child-directed speech occurring in a preschool classroom environment. Read on to learn more about the findings and possible action steps.

ProPELL: Promoting Preschoolers’ Early Language Learning

The Crane Center's Promoting Preschoolers’ Early Language Learning (ProPELL) project is an IES-funded project designed to investigate preschoolers’ early language learning. This project is done in partnership with colleagues from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT: 7 different pathways to kindergarten

With only a few studies on the pathways that children take from birth to kindergarten, this OSU study shows the variety of pathways children take to reach kindergarten.

Striving Readers

Crane and Schoenbaum Centers, in partnership with Greene County Educational Service Center and Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center received a Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant to form the Ohio State Research Foundation Consortium which aimed to improve literacy outcomes for Ohio children birth to age five.

Ohio Families Struggle during COVID-19 Pandemic

Recognizing the potential growing crisis for Ohio families from the coronavirus pandemic, our researchers designed a rapid-response study of family conditions during COVID-19. This white paper shares their preliminary findings offer valuable information about the social, economic, and psychosocial impacts.

Steps to Sustainability: Fundamental Reforms to Our Systems of Child Care and Early-Learning Programs

Our Broken Child Care System and How to Fix It, Part 3: The final segment of this series examines how the many systems that make up U.S. child care are failing. Fixes that are both sweeping enough and realistic aren’t obvious, so Dr. Laura Justice turns to three experts to weigh in.

Rebuilding the Early Child Care and Education System

Our country’s early care and education system was fractured and in crisis, even before COVID-19. The abrupt closure of many child care centers, new requirements upon opening, and challenges facing families make it even more pressing that our “rebuilding” efforts work toward a more sustainable and equitable child care system.

Interactive read alouds: tips for parents and caregivers for enriching reading experiences at home

Many parents and caregivers find themselves at home with young children while schools and child care centers are closed. Reading aloud is one of the most significant activities for developing literacy that also creates a sense of connection and safety in what may be a difficult time. Read on for research-backed tips to help make the most of these shared experiences.

Sit Together and Read (STAR)

STAR Read-Aloud Practices are designed to develop and strengthen young children’s awareness of and knowledge about print. They utilize evidence-based reading techniques developed from years of research.

Scaffolding with storybooks: A guide for enhancing young children’s language & literacy achievement

This book is an essential guide for those many individuals who serve as children’s first teachers and who understand, as we do, that interactive book reading is an important context for helping children learn and develop.