Ready to Learn: Teaching Kindergarten Students School Success Skills

Abstract

Studies have indicated that children have difficulty learning when they do not demonstrate certain prerequisite learning skills that involve attention, listening comprehension, and social skills. The authors evaluated the Ready To Learn (RTL) curriculum for its effectiveness in improving the prerequisite learning skills in 12 kindergarten classes (260 students) in 3 demographically similar elementary schools. Teachers in target classrooms were trained to deliver the RTL curriculum and 5 specific teaching strategies for use throughout the day. Students who received the intervention in those classrooms scored significantly higher than did comparison students on a listening comprehension measure and a student behavior rating scale. These findings may be an indicator that entire classrooms of students can be taught prerequisite learning skills as part of the daily curriculum and, as a result, show increases in school success behaviors.