Impact of a Content-Rich Literacy Curriculum on Kindergarteners’ Vocabulary, Listening Comprehension, and Content Knowledge
In a recent study, researchers explored the effects of the content-rich literacy curriculum CKLA: Core Knowledge Language Arts on various aspects of kindergarten students’ development. The study focused on evaluating the impact of Core Knowledge Language Arts Knowledge Strand on vocabulary, listening comprehension, and content knowledge among young learners.
Research Design and Methodology
The study incorporated findings from two separate randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with the second trial designed as a replication of the first. A total of 47 schools in large urban districts in the United States were randomly selected to either implement the CKLA Knowledge Strand or serve as a waitlist control group. The CKLA Knowledge Strand places a strong emphasis on language comprehension through interactive read-alouds that aim to systematically enhance students’ content knowledge.
Implementation and Support
Teachers received two days of professional development workshops to familiarize themselves with the curriculum, in addition to ongoing support from facilitators during the implementation phase. The study involved 1,194 kindergarten students who underwent individual pre- and post-test assessments to measure proximal and standardized vocabulary, listening comprehension, and content knowledge in science and social studies.
Key Findings
After approximately one semester of implementing the CKLA Knowledge Strand, researchers observed positive and significant impacts on proximal vocabulary, as well as science and social studies knowledge among the students. Furthermore, the study revealed significant interactions between vocabulary and content knowledge, indicating that children with higher receptive vocabulary at the beginning of the school year derived greater benefits from the curriculum in terms of learning new words and content knowledge.
Significance of Study
This research adds a novel perspective by examining the influence of a content-rich literacy curriculum that integrates literacy and content-area instruction. The replication of positive effects across the two RCTs highlights the robustness of the findings and underscores the potential benefits of such educational approaches for young learners.
This study sheds light on the importance of incorporating content-rich literacy practices in early education to enhance students’ language comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and content knowledge. The integration of literacy and subject-area instruction can offer a holistic learning experience and contribute to the overall academic development of young learners.
(Article published online on November 18, 2024)
As of February 2025, research results summarizing the effectiveness of CKLA are available via open access at the link below. We recommend that you download the results if they are of interest as it is unclear how long this link will be available.