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ERIC Number: EJ689611
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 12
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0002-4805
EISSN: N/A
Should We "Redshirt" in Kindergarten? A Study of the Effect of Age on Kindergarteners' Reading Readiness
McNamara, John K.; Scissons, Mary; Simonot, Sheri
Alberta Journal of Educational Research, v50 n2 p128-140 Sum 2004
This study examined the effect of chronological age on kindergarten children's reading readiness skills. Specifically, we ask whether chronological age should be considered when making decisions about academic redshirting: the practice of delaying younger children's entrance into kindergarten. We were concerned particularly with reading readiness, because research has shown consistently that kindergarten children who demonstrate strong prereading skills such as phonological awareness and letter-sound understanding are more likely to become strong readers in later grades (Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998). The participants in this study were 625 kindergarten children who were measured for age, phonological awareness, and letter-sound understanding. Results of analysis indicate that younger children were no different from their older peers in their phonological awareness skills whereas significant between-group differences did occur for letter-sound understanding. These results give strength to the notion that younger children in kindergarten were comparable to older children in their phonological awareness skills. However, younger children were less skilled in understanding letter-sound relationships.
Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 845 Education Centre South, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada. Tel: 780- 492-7941: Fax: 780-492-0236
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Kindergarten
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A