Effectiveness
Dialogic Reading was found to have positive effects on oral language and no discernible effects on phonological processing.
Program Information
Dialogic Reading is an interactive shared picture book reading practice designed to enhance young children's language and literacy skills. During the shared reading practice, the adult and the child switch roles so that the child learns to become the storyteller with the assistance of the adult who functions as an active listener and questioner. Two related practices are reviewed in the WWC intervention reports on Interactive Shared Book Reading and Shared Book Reading.
Research
Four studies of Dialogic Reading met the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards and one study met the WWC evidence standards with reservations. Together these five studies included over 300 preschool children and examined intervention effects on children's oral language and phonological processing. The majority of the children studied were from economically disadvantaged families. This report focuses on immediate posttest findings to determine the effectiveness of the intervention; however, follow-up findings provided by the study authors are included in the technical appendices.
