Effects of a Math and Science Library-Based Bilingual Program on Preschoolers and Their Families

• In Event: Roundtable Session 35
  In Roundtable Session: Impacts of Out-of-School Time on Math, Science, and Literacy

Abstract

Young children from low-resource communities and those who are DLLs are at risk for lack of school readiness in STEM and in language. High quality STEM experiences can enhance learning in these domains for preschoolers. Libraries can facilitate the delivery of high-quality out-of-school education. The Math and Science Story Time (MASST) program is a research-based Spanish-English bilingual informal learning story and activity series for Spanish-speaking preschoolers and their families held at the public library. The study reports effects of participation in MASST on children (learned key content, exposed to new books), their families (exposed to new books and library programs, got new ideas of activities to do at home), and the library (increased program attendance).

Author

• Alissa Anne Lange, Rutgers University