FOSTER YOUNG CHILDREN’S LEARNING—BASED ON HOW THEY LEARN BEST
Educators and organizations purchasing ReadAskChat for their families receive an array of additional resources for teachers, families, and program mangers to strengthen and measure the impact of their enactments.
Because ReadAskChat is designed for children 0-6 to learn in informal settings, childcare centers, preschools, and primary schools find it an invaluable tool for volunteers, tutors, and aides working with individuals or small groups of students, Most important, they make ReadAskChat a centerpiece of their family-engagement strategy. Through our Parent Video Series in English and Spanish, they communicate the joys and benefits of playful reading and open-ended conversation about our meaningful science features and stories from around the world.
Promote higher-level thinking and social-emotional learning
The ReadAskChat app coaches adult readers in how to talk about meaningful stories with children 6 months to 6 years. Children become confident in their ability to question, answer, and imagine. They learn to enjoy back-and-forth exchanges about what storybook characters think, do, and feel. Both adults and children find this experience intensely rewarding.
Build foundational science knowledge and habits of mind
As a National Science Foundation-funded program, ReadAskChat includes science features that spark curiosity and wonder and spur scientific thinking, such as observation, comparison, and theorizing. Stories are selectively enhanced with sounds and video clips from nature to bring new concepts to life.
Offer multiple entry points for learning
Text-specific conversation starters on each page of the library provide multiple entry points for exploration of stories. They inspire children to come up with their own questions and opinions and make new ideas their own.
Foster home-school connection
ReadAskChat is designed to prompt family conversation and shared storytelling, which not only reinforces and expands formal early learning, but also builds children’s confidence and sense of self. Our humorous Andie and Ruffy stories, in particular, enable children to “see themselves” in stories. Andie, cheered on by Ruffy, a stuff-animal companion, conquers a range of universal early childhood milestones—and young prereaders can celebrate right along with them and share their achievements with others.
LEARN MORE
Professional Development in Joyful Dialogic Reading
This 5-part series in the form of scripted slideshow presentations includes opportunities for participatory learning. Each module presents a deep dive into ReadAskChat’s joyful and easy dialogic reading method™ and the research supporting it. Presentations may be delivered online or in person.
Professional Development in Joyful Dialogic Reading
This 5-part series in the form of scripted slideshow presentations includes opportunities for participatory learning. Each module presents a deep dive into ReadAskChat’s joyful and easy dialogic reading method™ and the research supporting it. Presentations may be delivered online or in person.
