Improving Engagement: Integrating Assistive Technology in Early Literacy

Although there are documented benefits and legislative mandates for children from birth through age 22, assistive technology (AT) is highly underused, especially among young children (Dunst & Trivette, 2011). One of the main reasons for this underuse is that while teachers are legally required to provide AT for children with disabilities, many teachers do not have the knowledge, confidence, or skills needed to provide AT to support early literacy instruction (Dean, 2020; Hilaire & Gallagher, 2020; Temple, 2019). This article identifies the benefits of AT during early literacy instruction and describes how teachers can integrate practical AT tools and strategies into early literacy instruction using a widely utilized framework call the SETT (Student Environment Task Tool; Zabala, 1995) Framework. The authors aim to provide free professional development resources to improve teachers integration of AT in their classrooms to enhance opportunities for young children with disabilities to meaningfully participate in everyday literacy activities.

Goodrich et al. Embedded Executive Function Strategy Instruction

Prior research indicates that training aspects of executive function (EF; e.g., working memory) does not generalize beyond tasks that are closely aligned with the training (e.g., Melby-Lervåg & Hulme, 2013). However, such evaluations of training EF to improve performance in related areas of cognitive development (e.g., academic skills) have not utilized EF training paradigms in the context of evidence-based academic skills instruction. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the potential for embedding EF training within evidence-based early literacy instruction for young, at-risk dual language learners (DLLs). Sixty-nine preschool DLLs were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: a business-as-usual control group (BAU), a group that received early literacy instruction only (EL group), and a group that received early literacy instruction with embedded EF training (EL+EF group). The EL+EF group significantly outperformed the BAU control group for two outcomes (vocabulary and syntax skills), and significantly outperformed the EL group on one outcome (syntax). Interaction effects suggested that early literacy instruction, regardless of embedded EF supports, was most effective for children with low pretest EF. In contrast, the added benefits of embedded EF training beyond the effects of early literacy instruction alone were largest for children with high pretest EF. Implications for academic-cognitive hybrid interventions are discussed.