Exploring Book Reading in Development

Exploring Book Reading in Development is a Cognitive Science class taught by Melissa Burch.

Course Description
Reading is a common activity between children and their parents and teachers throughout the early childhood years. Many argue that reading with children helps set the stage for language and literacy development. Students will explore how book reading can promote children's literacy and cognitive development. The course will be comprised of two complementary aspects. First, we will read research literature exploring how reading with children may support children's development, and also examining specific strategies that can be used to support development. Second, we will conduct observations of group book reading settings (such as at the Eric Carle Museum and local elementary schools) to see how children are involved in book reading interactions. Students should be prepared to spend time outside of class meetings conducting observations. Students hould have some time available during the elementary school day between 9AM and 2PM to conduct observations. In addition to assignments focusing on reading research articles and reporting details of observations, students will complete a final written project integrating these two approaches.