Exploring how gestures improve reading skills in young children
The Effect of Articulatory Gestures on Word Reading, Non-word Reading, and Phonemic Segmentation in 4-year Olds
This study is testing if using hand gestures during reading practice can help four-year-old children learn to read better than other methods.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 9 (estimated) |
| Ages | 48 Months to 59 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Montclair State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montclair, New Jersey) |
| Trial ID | NCT06504264 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates whether using articulatory gestures during phonemic awareness training can enhance early literacy skills in four-year-old children compared to other methods. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: one receiving phonemic awareness training with gestures, another with general mouth pictures, and a control group with no visual aids. The study aims to isolate the effects of articulatory gestures on phoneme segmentation and reading abilities. By controlling for factors like motivation and engagement, the research seeks to provide clearer insights into the effectiveness of these multisensory strategies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are typically developing four-year-old children who know at least 15 letter names and can segment no more than three simple words into phonemes.
Not a fit: Children who are advanced in their reading skills or do not meet the basic literacy criteria may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved literacy outcomes for young children, particularly those struggling with reading.
How similar studies have performed: While multisensory strategies are commonly used, this specific approach focusing on articulatory gestures has limited prior research, making it a novel exploration.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Knows 15 letter names * Passes hearing screening * Passes Fluharty-2 Language Screening * Can segment no more than three consonant-vowel (CV), VC, or CVC words into phonemes * Not able to read more than one word or nonword used in the posttest. Exclusion Criteria: * Does not know 15 letter names * Fails hearing screening * Fails Fluharty-2 Language Screening * Can segment more than three consonant-vowel (CV), VC, or CVC words into phonemes * Reads more than one word or nonword used in the posttest.
Where this trial is running
Montclair, New Jersey
- Montclair State University — Montclair, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Robyn Becker — Montclair State University
- Study coordinator: Robyn Becker
- Email: beckerr@montclair.edu
- Phone: 9736557356
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.