Background

“Reach Out and Read is a national non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud in pediatric exam rooms across the nation (ROR, 2003-2006).” The ROR model includes that “physicians and nurses advise parents that reading aloud is the most important thing they can do to help their children love books and to start school ready to learn (ROR, 2003-2006).”

THE REACH OUT AND READ MODEL (ROR, 2003-2006)

The local Reach Out and Read program uses the ROR model, with slight modifications. Physicians reported that a typical well-child visit, between six months and five years of age, consists of the doctor introducing a book at the end of the visit, so it is the last thing that the parents hear, and modeling how to read the book with developmentally appropriate suggestions. For example, at six months, 1-2 pictures/pages are read to the child; at 12 months, 3-6 pictures/pages are read. Advice to parents begins at six months with the suggestion of reading 2-3 minutes, 3-4 times a day. The reading of sounds and naming of objects in the pictures is suggested and modeled. As the child grows older, the suggested amount of time spent in a reading session increases, with age-appropriate interactions between the parent and child being modeled. For example, at 12 months, modeling includes pointing and naming of the objects in the pictures, as well as asking questions, and taking the child’s finger to point at the pictures. The doctor models in Spanish language, if Spanish is the primary home language. Then, the doctor gives the book to the child. Some ROR programs write a prescription for the parent to read to the child. This ROR chooses to reduce the paperwork the parent has to deal with. The principle difference from the ROR model is that the study ROR models book reading at the end of the visit.

The Reach Out and Read Assessment (RORA) project was initiated in 2004 at the request of the ROR Coordinator for the new, local program. In September, the Texas A&M University Institutional Review Board – Human Subjects in Research approved the protocol.

Because of the need to hire a bilingual assistant, the project did not begin until July of 2005 at the ROR (treatment) site. In short order, final approval at a control site was secured and the study began at the control site within a week of completing 22 families at the ROR site. The control site was completed in October of 2005 with 20 families participating. The follow-up with the 42 families was planned for six months later.

Figure 1: ROR Reading Corner
Photo by J. Gramann

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